Press Release

Another step toward victory for Americans and Freedom of Choice in Health Care

Washington, D.C. (Dec. 13, 2010) – The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the nation’s largest nonpartisan, individual membership organization of state legislators, today released the following statements regarding Virginia’s Federal Court ruling that a major component of the new health care law is unconstitutional. 

“Judge Hudson’s ruling of the individual mandate being unconstitutional is just another step toward victory for Virginians and protection from individual mandates by the federal government.  The American people do not need the federal government forcing its way into their health care decision making,” said Virginia State Senator Stephen Martin. 

Sen. Martin carried the ALEC model Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act through the Virginia Legislature in 2010.  Virginia Senate Bill 311 was the basis for the law suit and subsequent ruling by the federal judge. 

In a huge push for health care freedom, this year 42 states have either introduced or announced that they will introduce ALEC’s Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act. Six states (Virginia, Idaho, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, and Missouri) passed the ALEC model as a statute, and two states (Arizona and Oklahoma) passed the model as a constitutional amendment. An active citizen initiative is also underway in Mississippi. 

“ALEC’s Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act is spreading throughout the country and giving the states the leverage they need to bring about challenges to ObamaCare.  I applaud Judge Hudson’s ruling and hope that this will be one more of many to come as challenges work their way to the Supreme Court,” said Christie Herrera, ALEC’s Health and Human Services Task Force Director. 

For more information on ALEC’s Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, visit the ALEC web site at www.alec.org