Affordable Health Insurance for Massachusetts Health Care Amendment

On March 10, 2008 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued its opinion on the Health Care Constitutional Amendment.

After all this time it's a huge disappointment to get an opinion that doesn't provide the remedy we were looking for.

But it's a much bigger loss for the citizens of Massachusetts. We just lost one of our constitutional rights to a Legislature that holds itself above the law. It's a decision that will leave us all thinking about things for a long time to come.

Unfortunately, the SJC felt it lacked the power to protect the voters' right to use the initiative process to amend the state constitution.

The Legislature has effectively been permitted to repeal whole sections of our constitution without the consent of the governed.

We are deeply concerned that the SJC seems unable to hold their elected officials accountable to the constitution they are sworn to uphold.

On November 5,2007 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court will hear oral arguments in a citizen suit involving the Health Care Constitutional Amendment.

The suit asks a basic question that goes to the heart of what it means to live in a constitutional democracy. When the Legislature ignores the constitution and violates the voters' rights can the Court provide a remedy?

The future of the Health Care Amendment depends on the answer. But, more important, so does the future of the initiative amendment process. The People's right to put a constitutional amendment before the voters if they can get the signatures and the approval of 25% of two consecutive legislatures is a fundamental part of democracy, Massachusetts-style.

It can be controversial as we all know. But if there is no remedy in this case, the Legislature, over the forceful objections of nearly a majority of its members, will have been allowed to usurp powers that the People have specifically reserved to themselves. The Legislature will have for practical purposes re-written the constitution without the consent of the People. We think that's a very big deal.

Oral arguments start at 9:00 a.m. in Boston at the Adams Courthouse in Pemberton Square (Government Center) on the 2nd floor, Courtroom 1. Please join us if you can. If not, you can also watch the webcast live or later in the day at this link. Go to our law library if you would like to read the briefs for oral argument.

With the SJC's help we may have a chance to see if a constitutional right to affordable, comprehensive and equitably financed health and mental health care coverage will create the leverage we will all need to finish the job so many worked so hard to begin with the 2006 reforms.

On January 2, 2007, the Legislature meeting in the final Constitutional Convention of the 2005-2006 legislative session denied the Health Care Amendment its second and final up or down vote on its merits as required by Article 48 of the Constitution to read the State House News story).

Before the HCA could be put to a vote on its merits it first needed to be discharged from the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing where it has sat untouched since the July 12, 2006 Constitutional Convention.

The motion to discharge the HCA from committee needed a 2/3 vote to be successful and failed 92-101 to view the roll call vote).

Before the ConCon ducked a vote on the HCA it did give an up or down vote to the other initiative petition on the calendar - the gay marriage ban. By deciding to vote on one initiative petition but not the other less than a week after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a unanimous opinion that the Legislature must vote up or down on the merits of every initiative it violated the people's constitutional rights and ignored the ruling of the Court..

The people of the commonwealth should be genuinely outraged that its Legislature feels it can pick and choose when to obey the Constitution as it pleases them. It usurped the people's right to amend the constitution and having declared itself above the law turned its back on the voters by choosing to vote on a same sex marriage ban opposed by 2/3 of the public and ducking a vote on the HCA which enjoys the support of over 75% of the public.

The Health Care Amendment's 3-year legislative journey is over. Now we will start reviewing our legal options.

This campaign is a citizen-led initiative to ensure that every Massachusetts resident has access to affordable, comprehensive and equitably financed coverage for medically necessary health and mental health care services.

History tells us that legislation by itself is not enough. The employer mandate in the 1988 Massachusetts Universal Health Care Law was repealed before it was ever implemented. History also tells us that even a ballot initiative for a law may not be enough. The people enacted the Clean Elections Law only to be stalled and eventually repealed by the Legislature. The only major, progressive reform that has been fully implemented - education reform - has a constitutional anchor backed up by the Supreme Judicial Court. We'll make it easy for you to elope in NY with DareToDream.nyc. Our elopement packages are one-of-a-kind experiences, giving our couples the taste of a city luxury wedding on a smaller scale.

The Health Care Amendment creates that constitutional anchor for affordable, comprehensive, equitable coverage. It will make sure that the promise of today's reform is fulfilled and that if additional reform is needed tomorrow, we'll have the political and legal tools we need to get the job done.

If you believe your constitutional rights are worth fighting for please help! Make a contribution to the Article 48 Defense Fund, 649 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 8, Cambridge, MA 02139. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to cover the anticipated legal cost and every dollar will make a difference.

Of course we're trying to get the Health Care Amendment on the ballot in 2008 to create a right that will enhance the health and financial security of every Massachusetts resident.

But we're also protecting the right of each and every one of us to petition our state government. We all may need it down the line.

With your help, citizens across Massachusetts have done the job set out by Article 48 of the Massachusetts Constitution to get (collecting signatures, building support, lobbying legislators) the votes needed to put the Health Care Amendment on the ballot.

We're demanding that the Legislature does their job. Article 48 MANDATES an up or down vote on the merits of the proposed amendment.

Two things you can do to help. First, send a check to the Article 48 Defense Fund, 649 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 8, Cambridge, MA 02139. Second, call your State Senator and Representative and tell them they still have a chance on January 2, 2007 to do the right thing and vote on the Health Care Amendment. Not sure who your state legislators are here. Thank you.

On November 9, 2006, the Constitutional Convention reconvened for the sixth time this Session and once again failed to vote on the Health Care Amendment sent to them by the people.

Other constitutional amendments were discussed, debated and voted on as required by Article 48 of the Massachusetts Constitution, but the Legislature recessed on a 109-87 vote before the Health Care Amendment could be heard.

The ConCon was recessed until January 2, 2007, the last day of the Session. monavip casino

The Health Care Amendment Campaign and its supporters believe the prospect of obtaining a second and final vote on the Health Care Amendment before the end of the Session is slim.

So today (view press release) ten Massachusetts voters joined the Committee for Health Care for Massachusetts in a suit to put the Health Care Constitutional Amendment on the 2008 ballot.

The most important issue for all the plaintiffs is that the Legislature fulfill its constitutional duty to vote YES or NO on every constitutional amendment sent to them by the people.

The suit (view complaint) asks the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to order the Secretary of State to put the Amendment before the voters unless the Legislature gives it the second and final up or down vote as required by Article 48 of the Massachusetts Constitution.

In 2003 the Amendment's supporters gathered over 71,000 signatures. In July 2004 the Legislature approved the Amendment by a 153 to 41 vote - over three times the 50 votes required for a citizen petition. Over the objection of 76 legislators, the July 2006 Constitutional Convention ducked a vote by sending the Amendment to a "special" study committee. That committee has not met.

We are still hopeful that the Legislature will do the right thing and vote on the Health Care Amendment on January 2, 2007.

If you care about your constitutional right for initiative petition and/or want to see the Health Care Amendment placed on the 2008 ballot please send a contribution to: Article 48 Defense Fund, 649 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 8, Cambridge, MA 02139.

A Chance to Set Things Straight

Seventy-six Health Care Heroes did. Who? They cast a courageous vote to bring the Health Care Amendment to the floor for the up or down vote the Massachusetts Constitution requires.

If your legislator was one of our Heroes please call, write or email them today and thank them. (List of Senators and Representatives) We'll need each and every one of them to take another tough vote on November 9th to get the Health Care Amendment on the 2008 ballot.

If your legislator isn't one of our Heroes please call and ask them to do the "right thing" on November 9th and vote to bring the Amendment to the ConCon floor for an up or down vote. It's a vote to respect the Constitution and a vote to respect the voters of Massachusetts. And of course ask them to make their vote "YES".

Our Health Care Heroes took a courageous vote on July 12th in the face of strong pressure from leadership. Many of our supporters from the 2004 ConCon (Who?) were forced to choose how best to serve their constituents - cast a vote of principle on one issue or vote against leadership at the price of an entire legislative agenda. While we wish every legislator who supported the Health Care Amendment in 2004 had voted to force an up or down vote on the Amendment last July it is important to understand they were between a rock and a hard place.

You can convince them that bringing the Health Care Amendment up for a vote and voting "YES" is the best way to serve their constituents.

We need your help! November 9th may be the last chance to create a right to affordable, comprehensive health coverage for every Massachusetts resident.

Call, write, email, or ask you legislators at the next rally or fundraiser you attend "Will you do the right thing at the November 9th ConCon?"

On July 12th the Legislature meeting in Constitutional Convention voted 118 to 76 (roll call for Senate and House) to send the Health Care Amendment to a special committee for study. Click here for a transcript of the July 12th ConCon.

We are extremely disappointed that an amendment that had overwhelming popular and legislative support and only needed 50 votes to be placed on the ballot this November was put into a study.

We are confident that if we get a timely report, after a prompt study of the Amendment on its merits, the special committee will present its findings to the members of the convention when it reconvenes on November 9, 2006.

We expect the Amendment will then receive its second and final vote. If it receives 50 votes or more it will be placed on the November 2008 ballot.

July 10, 2006 - New polling data released today by the Campaign shows overwhelming public support for the Health Care Amendment.

The new poll shows that by an almost 4-1 margin, 76.2%-20.2%, over three-quarters of Massachusetts residents favor a Health Care Amendment to the Massachusetts State Constitution. Click here to read the executive summary.

The results of this poll present clear signs that Massachusetts adults continue to maintain their solid support for a state constitutional amendment mandating health insurance coverage and strongly favor placing that amendment on the ballot this November, according to the pollster, Gerry Chervinsky.

The questions making up this proprietary poll were asked as part of The State House News Poll, a telephone poll conducted by KRC/Communications Research for The State House News Service from June 26-28, 2006, using standard random-digit-dialing techniques. The poll of 410 Massachusetts adults carries an overall margin of error of +/-4.7%.

This poll confirms the findings of the recent Channel 7/Suffolk University poll showing overwhelming support for the Health Care Amendment.

SECTION 1: The People of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby declare it necessary and expedient to alter the Constitution by the adoption of the following Article of Amendment:

Upon ratification of this amendment and thereafter, it shall be the obligation and duty of the Legislature and executive officials, on behalf of the Commonwealth, to enact and implement such laws, subject to approval by the voters at a statewide election, as will ensure that no Massachusetts resident lacks comprehensive, affordable and equitably financed health insurance coverage for all medically necessary preventive, acute and chronic health care and mental health care services, prescription drugs and devices.

Fall 2003: Collected 71,385 certified signatures from Massachusetts voters in 8 weeks requesting that this citizen initiative be put before the Legislature for its consideration.

July 14, 2004: Approved at the 2003-04 Constitutional Convention by a vote of 153-41 (more than three times the number of votes needed - 50) to refer the Amendment to the next Constitutional Convention.

January 2, 2006: Need approval by 50 out of 200 legislators at Constitutional Convention to advance the Amendment to the ballot.

2008 Statewide Ballot: Ratification requires a majority of voters to vote in favor of the Amendment at the ballot.


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Copyright © 2003-2021, Health Care for Massachusetts Campaign