WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS):

DATE:               Friday, Dec. 4

TIME:               10:45 am

PLACE:              Grand Hyatt Hotel Washington DC
                    1000 H St NW
                    Renwick Room (lower level 2)

EVENT:              Legislators from more than 15 states announce
                    opposition to U.S. Senate healthcare bill

CONTACT:            Kathryn Serkes
                    TakeBackMedicine.com
                    (206) 841 0100
                    Kathryn@takebackmedicine.com

"Baucus didn't need to look farther than his own backyard to know that Montanans want choice and competition in health care -- not the heavy hand of government," writes State Rep. Gary MacLaren of Montana's 89(th) District in The Politico this week.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=4BD2B302-18FE-70B2-A8967E480AE29827

Rep. MacLaren will be among the more than 15 state legislators from key political battlegrounds who will hold a news conference to state their opposition to the Senate healthcare bill under debate.

Other lawmakers include the Chair of the American Legislative Council's HHS Task Force, Linda Upmeyer (IA) who is also a nurse, Sen. David Hartsuch,, M.D. (IA), and Leah Vukmir (WI) a nurse.

The bi-partisan group of legislators has a laundry list of concerns, including unfounded Medicaid mandates and loss of insurance premium taxes which they say will be the result of this bill.

This is the largest group of state legislators ever to stand up together to oppose the federal takeover of healthcare, particularly, the Medicare-modeled "public plan" and a national health insurance exchange--which they say will trample states' rights and lead Americans down the road to single-payer health care.

Key states such as Nevada, Louisiana, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana and Maine will be represented.

DISCUSSION TOPICS INCLUDE:

1. Individual opposition in more than 15 states (see list below)
2. Introduction of state Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act in more than 20 states that would allow states to block federal insurance mandates and prohibit penalties for patients who refuse to participate in a plan.
3. Release of letter opposing federal takeover of health care signed by more than 100 legislators from 45 states.

SPEAKERS
In addition to legislators, speakers include:
Bob Williams, Chair, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a Washington-state think tank
Christie Herrera, Director, ALEC Health & Human Services Task Force
Kathryn Serkes, Founder, Doctor Patient Medical Association

STATE REPRESENTED BY LEGISLATORS AT THE EVENT INCLUDE:
Arizona
Arkansas
Georgia
Iowa
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Maine
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Tennessee
Texas
Wisconsin

SOURCE Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.aapsonline.org