Calls on Gov. Christie to Veto Obamacare Health Care Exchange Act

Americans for Prosperity Calls on Gov. Christie to Veto Obamacare Health Care Exchange Act

Conservative Group Says It’s Time for Governor to Take “Principled Stand” Against Government Health Care Takeover

BOGOTA, NJ – Americans for Prosperity, the state’s leading free-market, grassroots organization, is calling on Gov. Chris Christie to veto legislation that would establish Obamacare’s so-called health care exchanges in the state.

The legislation aimed at complying with the unconstitutional federal health care takeover, the “New Jersey Health Benefit Exchange Act”, passed the state Legislature in mid-March and awaits action by the governor within the next several weeks well before the much-anticipated Supreme Court decision expected by the end of June.

Mike Proto, communications director for Americans for Prosperity’s New Jersey chapter said, “Our organization respects much of the work the governor has done to try to turn New Jersey around and has stood with him on numerous issues, but on the issue of the government takeover of our health care he has disappointed.”

“The governor’s administration has already accepted federal funds for the exchange and for Obamacare’s high risk pools. The administration also failed to join the multi-state constitutional legal challenge now pending before the Supreme Court,” continued Proto. “The time has come for the governor to take a principled stand against Obamacare and to protect the rights of every New Jersey citizen to make their own health care choices.”

“Furthermore, the governor has an obligation to protect our state’s sovereignty against this federal power grab. The state’s created the federal government, not the other way around. When the federal government exceeds its enumerated powers and infringes on state’s rights, the governor has an obligation to say ‘no’,” added Proto.

“The governor needs to act. By law, this cannot wait until the Supreme Court hands down its decision two months from now. The governor must veto this bill now and let the people of New Jersey know once and for all where he stands on Obamacare.”

As part of Americans for Prosperity’s effort, the group is urging its more than 64,000 citizen activists across the state to sign onto a petition letter to the governor urging him to veto the bill.

Americans for Prosperity has been at the forefront of opposing the government health care takeover since 2009. Most recently, the New Jersey chapter delivered over a 1,000 citizen activists to Washington, D.C. to rally against the government takeover as the Supreme Court heard oral argument on the historic multi-state legal challenge.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans.