The following testimony was delivered by David Ripley on behalf of Idaho Chooses Life before the House Health & Welfare Committee on March 7th:

MR. CHAIRMAN … MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE…

I RISE TO OPPOSE HB 248.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH THE LEGISLATION IS THAT IT IMPLEMENTS OBAMACARE.

THE SO-CALLED “AFFORDABLE CARE ACT” HAS ALREADY BUILT A PILE OF BROKEN PROMISES, GUARANTEED TO GET LARGER AS THE ENTIRE LAW TAKES ROOT. BUT THERE ARE OTHERS HERE WHO CAN ADDRESS MANY OF THOSE ISSUES, PARTICULARLY THE HORRENDOUS FINANCIAL BURDENS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ATTEMPT TO REVAMP AMERICAN SOCIETY AND ITS ECONOMY.

I WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE GRAVE THREAT THIS FEDERAL LEGISLATION POSES TO THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WILL JUST SUMMARIZE THE POINTS MADE BY THE BOARD OF IDAHO CHOOSES LIFE IN THE RESOLUTION JUST DISTRIBUTED:

A STATE INSURANCE EXCHANGE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCK OF OBAMACARE.

BURIED WITHIN THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION IS A RIVER OF TAX MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE THE ABORTION INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS ABORTIONS THEMSELVES.

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ALSO CONTAINS PROVISIONS FOR A 15 MEMBER PANEL WITH ENORMOUS POWERS TO RATION HEALTH CARE FOR THE DISABLED, SENIORS AND THOSE DEEMED AN UNWORTHY SOCIAL BURDEN.

THE FEDERALIZATION OF HEALTH CARE POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO CONSCIENCE RIGHTS OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS – AS WELL AS TAXPAYERS, EMPLOYERS AND CHURCHES.THAT BECAME EVIDENT FROM THE OBAMA MANDATE TO PROVIDE “FREE” ABORTIFACIENTS.

WE FEAR IT IS BUT THE BEGINNING OF A WIDE ASSAULT ON THE 1ST AMENDMENT.

WE ALSO SEE AN UNPRECEDENTED THREAT TO PERSONAL LIBERTY BY THE COLLECTION OF MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PERSONAL AND INTIMATE FAMILY DATA. NEITHER THE ACA NOR THE BILL BEFORE YOU PROVIDES ANY REASONABLE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE RELIGIOUS AND PERSONAL LIBERTIES OF THOSE WHO USE AN EXCHANGE TO PURCHASE INSURANCE — WHETHER BY ENTICEMENT OR UNDER COERCION.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO CLAIM THAT THE ACA IS NOW THE “LAW OF THE LAND” AND THAT WE MUST SUBMIT. IF WE ARE COMPLIANT, PERHAPS OUR NEW FEDERAL MASTERS WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME. CURB ONE EXCESS OR ANOTHER.

TO THAT I WOULD ANSWER THAT THE EXISTING MEDICAID PROGRAM OFFERS US ALL THE EVIDENCE WE NEED OF WHAT WE CAN REASONABLY EXPECT AS WILLING SUPPLICANTS IN A “PARTNERSHIP” WITH AN OVERBEARING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD ALSO SUBMIT THAT THE ACA IS NOT YET THE LAW OF THE LAND. NOT THIS LAND, ANYWAY. IT WILL NOT BECOME THE LAW OF IDAHO UNTIL AND UNLESS THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE SANCTIONS IT AND LEGITIMIZES IT.

OF COURSE YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF OBAMACARE. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION. YOUR VOTE FOR HB 248 ENABLES IT TO BECOME THE LAW OF IDAHO. YOU WILL THEREBY BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FEDERAL RULES AS THEY EXIST TODAY … AND WHATEVER OUTRAGEOUS THINGS SECRETARY SEBELIUS DECIDES TO IMPOSE UPON IDAHO CITIZENS IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, WE ASK THAT YOU REJECT THIS BILL.