New State "Emergency"
Powers Threaten Civil Liberties
Unelected Officials Can Force Vaccinations, Quarantines, Rationing &
Property Seizures
from
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
December 13, 2001 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
is sending a model bill for state legislatures to pass that would give
public health officials and governors sweeping new authority to
quarantine and vaccinate individuals. Moreover, the proposal allows
government authorities to ration and commandeer drugs and other items,
including firearms and private property.
This bill would give the governor the power to declare himself
dictator in case of a "public health emergency" -- which
means whatever he says it does. Further, the governor could then
delegate this authority to unelected political appointees in state and
local public health offices.
The bill is so alarming that even state legislators are publicly
opposing it, including the American Legislative Exchange Council
(ALEC), the nation's largest bipartisan, individual membership
organization of state legislators.
While ALEC's Director of the Health and Human Services Task Force
acknowledges that safeguarding citizens from biological and chemical
attack is a critical function of government, "We must take a
much more deliberative approach in crafting effective policy without
sacrificing the rights and liberties of individuals and families,"
said Jennifer King.
The proposed legislation, entitled the Model State Emergency Health
Powers Act (MEHPA), is already under consideration in several states
including Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Minnesota, Illinois, and
California, while many states will consider the measure during the 2002
legislative sessions, according to King.
Upon declaring an emergency, the government could:
- Force you to take a vaccination or a medical treatment decided by
the Governor -- or be arrested;
- Herd you into a public quarantine or isolation facility;
- Seize any of your property that the government decided was
necessary to cope with the emergency, such as real estate, fuel,
food, clothing, and communication devices;
- Destroy property alleged to be hazardous without compensation and
without recourse;
- Conscript you or your business into State service;
- Impose rationing, price controls, and quotas, and control the
transportation or use of any item deemed "reasonable and
necessary for emergency response," specifically including
firearms; and
- Suspend any State rules that might hinder the program.
The Governor does not have to consult the public health authority,
the legislature, or the courts. He does not have to answer to
anyone, ever, for the consequences of his actions. HHS will probably try
to bribe or coerce the legislature into passing this law by threatening
to withhold federal funds for state Medicaid or other health programs.
HELP STOP THIS BILL!
SIGN THE
PETITION. Urge President Bush to stop HHS from pushing this
monstrous bill Log on to www.aapsonline.org or call the AAPS Hotline at
800.419.4777
CONTACT STATE OFFICIALS. Tell legislators and your governor.
Call the Legislative Hotline in your State Capitol.
SPREAD THE WORD. Tell colleagues, teachers, reporters, talk
show hosts, business leaders;
ALERT AAPS. Send news clips or any other reports about efforts
to introduce this bill in your state.
For more on why doctors are leaving medicare and other health alert
news, go to www.aapsonline.org
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