Proposed Resolution in Opposition to Amendment 63

Resolution in Opposition to Amendment 63 (Health Care Choice)
 
WHEREAS, the deceptively named “Health Care Choice” amendment is aimed at undermining the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by Congress to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care; and
 
WHEREAS, five of Colorado’s seven members in the US House of Representatives and both of Colorado’s US Senators voted in favor of the health care reform on behalf of their constituents, offering improved access to health care for Coloradans; and
 
WHEREAS, over 750,000 people in Colorado, approximately 15 percent of Colorado’s population, do not have health insurance, imposing an added burden on insured individuals, businesses, and health care providers who have to bear the expense of medical care for the uninsured; and
 
WHEREAS, full participation in qualified health insurance programs will lower the costs of health care, ensure fair access to affordable health care for everyone, and decrease the rate of medical bankruptcies, without taking away the ability of individuals to select their health care providers or choose their method of payment; and
 
WHEREAS, federal law supersedes state law, meaning Colorado’s amended Constitution could not be upheld under federal law. The initiative misleads voters to think they can opt out of health care, but if passed, the federal government would still enforce the laws under the new federal health care reform, making the amendment symbolic at best and likely to result in costly litigation at taxpayer expense; and
 
WHEREAS, the amendment, combined with Attorney General John Suthers’ reckless lawsuit attempting to block the federal health care reform represents a frivolous and vindictive misuse of Colorado’s resources by trying to turn the clock back and undo hard-won gains achieved through the appropriate channels of grassroots activism and representative government;
 
THEREFORE be it RESOLVED, that the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Denver opposes Amendment 63, urges a “No” vote on Amendment 63 on the General Election ballots cast on or before November 2, 2010, and commits to educating the electorate on the impractical nature of Amendment 63.