Capitol Steps - Rep. Ken Paxton
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Health care is one of the major sources of spending in the State budget accounting for over one-third of all state spending last biennium. Much of the spending is due to federal mandates put in place by the United States Congress which drastically increase our States health care costs and do not allow Texas flexibility to develop a more efficient system.
In order to address the problem the Texas House passed House Bill 5 last week. House Bill 5 offers a creative solution to the inflexible health care system that forces federal interference upon the states by entering Texas into an interstate health care compact pursuant to Article 1 Section 10 of the United State Constitution.
There is a growing body of research regarding interstate compacts and their potential uses in the public policy arena. This compact would permit a member state that is part of the compact to suspend all federal rules and regulations concerning health care that are inconsistent with the rules and regulations adopted by the member state. Entering into an interstate health care compact would restore Texas authority to direct our own health and human services programs and to take innovative approaches that are more efficient and effective than the failed current model that is laden with federal mandates. Each respective member state would have discretion to implement health care policy as it sees fit.
Americans from across the country are demanding a reduction of federal powers and a return to our countrys founding principles as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. A number of recent federal proposals are not within the scope of the federal governments constitutionally designated powers and impede the states right to govern themselves. HB 5 is a prudent solution for states to reclaim their role in one of the most important areas of public policy - health care.
