Thursday, March 1, 2012
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak expressed his strong disapproval of the US Senate voting 51 - 49 to kill the Blunt Amendment which would have protected the rights of religious organizations.
The Blunt Amendment, authored by Roy Blunt (R-MO.), was designed to combat the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandate which requires all health insurers to cover birth control for employees, even when the organization is religiously affiliated and opposed to birth control. “ObamaCare is all about telling everyone what they have to do – from patient, to employer, to provider, and now its crossing over and infringing on our religious liberties,” Doak said.
During the 2010 election, Doak campaigned with a pledge to lead Oklahoma’s fight against PPACA. He noted that during the same 2010 election Oklahomans overwhelmingly passed a referendum opting out of the Act because voters realized mandates were the law’s prime stock in trade. “If Obamacare is not stopped, the infringement on our rights is limitless,” Doak said. “For example, as it stands now, citizens must buy health insurance or face penalties on their taxes. Employers must provide contraceptive care even when it contradicts their faith and providers are now forced to meet the compliance demands of over 300 programs that have recently been established by the Department of Health and Human Services.”
Doak encourages leaders of the faith community to keep speaking out against unconstitutional mandates as public opposition to the PPACA mounts in the run-up to the law’s 2012 date with the United States Supreme Court.
“I’m heartened that pastors and priests are not sitting idle,” Doak said. “I sincerely hope that the faith community listens to their clergy members and understands their basic religious liberties are at stake. Our federal government is out of control and this is yet another example.”
“I look forward to our clergy continuing to lead their congregations in this fight for religious freedom, and I anticipate a Supreme Court ruling that overturns PPACA, returning power to the people over their own lives, beliefs and choices.”
-30-
For more information contact:
Kyle E. Coulter
(405) 522-8398