ORLANDO – Today Representative Eric Eisnaugle (R-Orlando) introduced House Resolution 1561 that encourages Attorney General Bill McCollum to file suit in federal court if Washington’s healthcare bill forces an individual health insurance mandate on Floridians. Representative Eisnaugle and Attorney General McCollum contend that the Congress has no authority to compel individuals to purchase an unwanted product or service as a condition of living in the United States.

“This is a breath tax,” said Eisnaugle. “If you’re breathing, you’re paying. You may not want the product, you may not need the product, but the only opt out is leaving the country and it’s a violation of individual rights.”

Legal scholars question the constitutionality of federally-mandated healthcare while budget analysts worry that millions in additional Medicaid costs would bankrupt the state. According to a recent Pew Center of the States report, Medicaid already costs states $335 billion or 21 percent of all state expenditures.

“A federal health insurance mandate not only violates our basic concepts of personal freedom but it could hamstring Florida to unsustainable spending,” said Eisnaugle. “Floridians are outraged that Washington would even consider using our state to hide the crushing cost of their programs through unfunded mandate.”

State legislatures and attorneys general in 14 other states have already voiced support for resolutions similar to Eisnaugle’s. Recent proposals in Congress have scaled back the original Medicaid price tag for states, but the question of individual mandates still looms.

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