State Representatives Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) and Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp.), together with State Senator Tim Grendell (R- Chesterland) today announced at a press conference they will soon be introducing joint resolutions in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate that seek to safeguard the ability of Ohioans to continue to make their own health care choices.

The House and Senate resolutions would preserve the freedom of Ohioans to make their own health care decisions by proposing an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that prohibits any rule or law from forcing a person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health care system.

“We introduced this legislation as a way of protecting the fundamental rights of Ohioans against bureaucratic power grabs,” Rep. Maag said. “What’s right for one person may not be right for another, and what’s right for some states may not be right for Ohio. We have to have options with regard to our health care providers, treatments and care.”

“Having the ability to make our own choices is something we treasure as Americans,” Rep. Sears said. “This legislation emphasizes that the patient remains the most important figure in health care—not the government. It’s about respecting the will of the people.”

“The citizens of Ohio should have the ability to decide for themselves how they want to consume health care services,” said Grendell, who sponsored legislation in the Senate last year that would have made it the policy of Ohio that no resident could be required to obtain or maintain an individual health insurance policy. “By proposing these constitutional amendments, we are giving Ohioans the opportunity to reject this oppressive federal attack on their individual liberties.”

Recent federal court rulings in Virginia and Florida have found the provision of the federal health care law requiring individuals to buy health insurance or pay a fine is unconstitutional.

Lawmakers were joined at the press conference by Maurice Thompson from the 1851 Center, Alan Witten from the Ohio Project, and Mike Wilson and Chris Littleton from the Ohio Liberty Council.

Similar legislation has been introduced in states across the nation. If passed, the Ohio Health Care Freedom Act would appear as a statewide ballot issue.