Clint Bolick from the Goldwater Institute, an attorney who helped draft Prop. 101, has written a piece explaining to prolifers that it would not affect abortion – affect the ability to get an abortion, pass legislation restricting abortion, etc. Even the opponents of Prop. 101 acknowledge the initiative would not affect abortion positively or negatively in any way. It was written carefully to avoid addressing abortion.

PROP. 101 WOULD PREVENT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE IN ARIZONA

by Clint Bolick

Arizonans have a chance to take a giant step to protect their freedom. Proposition 101—the Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act—would prohibit schemes that would give government greater control over our health care decisions.

Some pro-life activists have expressed concerns about the initiative, but a careful reading makes clear the concerns are unfounded. I provided legal advice to the initiative’s drafters, and such concerns were foremost in my mind every step of the way. Moreover, the sponsors, whose intent is central to judicial interpretation, have made clear that the measure affects the life issue not at all.

Prop. 101 would amend the Constitution to prohibit schemes, which have been swirling around the state, that would restrict individuals’ “freedom of choice of private health care systems or private plans of any type,” the “right to pay directly for lawful medical services,” or the freedom to participate or not in health insurance programs.

The initiative would not force the government to pay for anything. It would not restrict or expand the medical procedures that health insurance companies may choose to cover. Because it preserves the right of individuals to pay directly for “lawful” medical services, it does not limit in any way the right of the people or our representatives to define what services are or are not lawful.

The measure simply prohibits the government from compelling people to join a health insurance system or plan—which is the central element in all socialized medicine schemes.

Indeed, although the initiative is neutral on the issue of abortion, if it passes it will create a firewall against a government-mandated one-size-fits-all health insurance system, which will limit the power of government to dictate what medical services—like abortion—must be paid for by taxpayer funds. Perhaps that is why the Arizona chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) officially opposes Prop. 101 and submitted a ballot pamphlet argument against it.

Arizonans have a long tradition of protecting their freedom. Politicians at the national and state levels want to dictate our health insurance choices. Prop. 101 would take the matter out of their hands and keep it in ours.
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Clint Bolick is director of the Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation.