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Leander Perez, Louisiana, Louisiana Legislature, nullification, Obamacare, Paul Hollis, supremacy clause, United States Constitution
Rep. Paul Hollis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
By Robert Mann
In the annals of Louisiana legislative history, many a demagogic lawmaker has filed many a puerile bill.
Perhaps each year some organization, maybe the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR), should present an award to the benighted legislator who files the dumbest piece of legislation.
Were there such an award, I would nominate Republican Rep. Paul Hollis of Mandeville, who this session introduced House Bill 429, a push poll disguised as a constitutional amendment.
Hollis’ proposed amendment says, in part
In order to preserve the freedom of all residents of Louisiana to provide for their own health care, no law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system.
In other words, federal law and a Supreme Court ruling notwithstanding, Louisiana shouldn’t have to obey federal laws it doesn’t like, like the Affordable Health Care Act.
Here’s the push poll part: Hollis’ bill would stipulate that when the amendment appears on the ballot in November 2014, it would ask, simply
Do you support an amendment to prohibit any law or administrative rule requiring any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system? (Adds Article I, Section 28)
Hollis is obviously one of the dimmer bulbs in the Louisiana House, which is really saying something.
