By Rep. Jason Murphey

What if you had a pressing need for a new car? And what if, when you went to buy a new car, the only vehicle you were allowed to purchase was a luxury vehicle with all options pre-installed? Can you imagine how many Oklahomans would be unable to afford transportation if this scenario were a reality?

One of the most pressing topics the Legislature deals with each year is health care. The issue is of added importance because Oklahoma has the fourth highest population of uninsured people. The most obvious reason for this lack of coverage is the high price of purchasing insurance in Oklahoma.

The average price of a job-based health insurance policy in Oklahoma is $4,088. The national average is $3,991. Oklahoma’s median income is significantly lower than the national average, which means that Oklahomans pay higher health insurance costs with a lower average income.

One of the reasons for high insurance fees in Oklahoma is because the Legislature has driven up the cost over the years by mandating a “one size fits all” approach to coverage. Policies become even more expensive when the Legislature approves new laws to mandate the coverage of any number of heartbreaking medical situations that have not traditionally been covered by health insurance policies Read more…

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Sen Gumm: Mandate Myths From “The Daily Oklahoman” Opinion Page

–Legislation requiring abortion clinics to provide a woman with an ultrasound before terminating her pregnancy passed the House today.

House Bill 3144, by Rep. Lisa Billy, expands on pro-life legislation passed in 2006 that required abortion doctors to tell a woman she had a right to a free ultrasound at an off-site location. This legislation would require the ultrasound to be available at the clinic where the abortion would be performed.

This bill is needed to give women as much information as possible to ensure she does not later regret her decision, said Billy.

“There is nothing more important we can do here in the Legislature than protect the lives of innocent children,” said Billy, R-Purcell. “This bill will further prepare every woman who is about to make a life-altering decision. When a woman has all the information in her hands, she will walk out of that clinic confident in her choice.”

The bill passed the House with a vote of 88-11 and will now move to the Senate for consideration.

The Oklahoma State Senate passed key pro-life legislation that provides protection to pro-life healthcare providers.

Senate Bill 1878 by Senator Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, creates the Freedom of Conscience Act, which protects the rights of healthcare providers to refuse to take part in the destruction of human life.

Protection under this legislation is provided to employees or prospective employees who have objections, based on their religious conviction or moral code, to such scenarios as participating in or performing an abortion, stem cell research, or euthanasia.

“The bipartisan effort made to allow this legislation to pass is to be applauded,” said Senator Lamb. “Pro-life healthcare providers deserve protection for their moral or religious convictions, and Senate Bill 1878 does just that.”

Senate Bill 1878 will now move to the House for consideration.

Next the state will try to ban smoking in individuals’ cars and homes as well, said Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) who proposed an amendment to SB 1875 that would have simply banned all smoking within the state of Oklahoma, but the measure failed when the members of the committee – including Brogdon – refused to vote on the amendment.

Senate Bill 1875 passed the Senate Business and Labor Committee, and will move to the Senate. This bill reinforces current smoking bans, and expands the bans to bars, casinos and racetracks.

This legislation is part of a growing trend nationally by government officials to assume the responsibility for the personal health habits of its citizens. As previously noted by OKPNS, such smoking bans are becoming more common. In California, there is a move toward smoke-free apartments and condos.

Other health habits are under scrutiny, as well, as Mississippi’s House of Representatives is currently considering legislation to prohibit restaurants from serving obese customers and New York City Restaurants are banned from using trans fats.

Closer to home, Tulsa and Oklahoma City launched the Mayors’ Fitness Challenge, which is part of the national Mayors’ Healthy Cities Campaign, by the United States Conference of Mayors. At least participation in these tax-payer-funded programs is voluntary for citizens - for now.

Can you put an entire city on a diet? Mayor Mick Cornett is trying to do exactly that, on a program called OKC Million:

Obesity in America has reached epidemic proportions and Oklahoma City wants to lead the way to a healthier nation. I invite all citizens of Oklahoma City to join up on this Web site and become healthier for a lifetime.

My goal in establishing this initiative is to bring awareness to the problem, introduce programs to help cure it, and inspire all citizens to become healthier and lose weight.

There are programs for Oklahoma City residents of all ages, and and even a meter to keep track of how many pounds enrollees have lost.

Last year, Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor had a similar program, called the Mayor’s Fitness Challenge for Tulsans:

I challenge kids, parents, and everyone in Tulsa to make fitness and health a top priority in your lives. You don’t have to become a marathon runner to achieve a fitter lifestyle — just get up and get moving!

Parents, be good role models for your kids: shoot some hoops, take a walk in the park, or take them for a bike ride along one of Tulsa’s great trails. And then provide your family with healthy, nutritious foods every day.

When we are active and consistently eating well-balanced meals, we will enjoy healthy and fulfilling lives. Join me today in getting fit and healthy for life!

These two city-wide campaigns are part of the larger state-wide Mayors’ Fitness Challenge, and now part of the national Mayors’ Healthy Cities Campaign, by the United States Conference of Mayors.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, says the Healthy Americans Act’s mandate for insurance “is not freedom.”

Coburn has his own plan, which he is sponsoring with North Carolina GOP Sen. Richard Burr, which would change the tax code to give every person the refundable tax credit for health care. They could purchase insurance through their employer or go out and get it on their own. States could create a blanket plan to cover those who don’t sign up on their own. Those who fell into this default plan wouldn’t be penalized, but they would have a high deductible, making them responsible for a sizable chunk of the final bill.

Both of these proposals would provide financial incentives for people to get preventive health care.

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