WASHINGTON,
April 15, 2010
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– Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) introduced H.R. 4999, the Reclaiming Individual Liberty Act, legislation that would strip the unconstitutional individual mandate contained in the health care bill.
“While Congress is given power under the Constitution to regulate interstate commerce, never before have we considered legislation that would require individuals to purchase a private—government approved—product, as the price of citizenship,” Garrett said. “This moves far beyond regulating economic activity, and into the realm of regulating inactivity. If we allow that Congress has this authority under the Constitution, then there is virtually no limit to Washington’s power to micromanage the lives of our citizens."
While President Obama and Speaker Pelosi claim their health care bill expands coverage for millions of Americans, in reality, it simply mandates that they buy health insurance, and allows the government to take criminal action against taxpayers who do not purchase a plan. This mandate is unprecedented and unconstitutional. Garrett’s legislation repeals the individual mandate contained in the Obama/Pelosi health care package.
Full Text of the Legislation:
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4999
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the mandate that individuals purchase health insurance.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 13, 2010
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. PITTS, Mr. POSEY, and Mr. DUNCAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the mandate that individuals purchase health insurance.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Reclaiming Individual Liberty Act'.
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE MANDATE.
Section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(h) Termination- This section shall not apply with respect to any month beginning after the date of the enactment of this subsection.'.
