“I don’t want to be told to shut up, sit down and follow orders,” said Rosenberger.
She’s working independently from the cooperative effort of Ohioans for Healthcare Freedom, the political action committee backing Issue 3, and the Ohio Republican Party, which has contributed $20,000 to the PAC.
Rosenberger said that she and her husband Andy have spent several thousands of dollars of their own money for radio ads promoting Issue 3 and also for door hangers. In addition, she’s knocking on doors and making phone calls.
Issue 3 is a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit the federal, state or local government from requiring Ohioans to buy health insurance.
The state GOP and Ohioans for Healthcare Freedom are cooperating on call centers that try to identify supporters for both Issue 3 and Issue 2, the referendum on Senate Bill 5, legislation restricting public employee collective bargaining.
Issue 2 has become partisan, said Rosenberger, and she doesn’t want to be associated with that.
“I’m an independent. I have voted Democratic. I have voted Republican,” she said.
Asked for her view on Issue 2, she said:
“I’m not going to tell you.”
She’s not reluctant on Issue 3.
“I believe that it’s unconstitutional for the federal government to require anybody to purchase a commercial product,” said Rosenberger. “...What are they going to require you to buy next? You let them get away with this and they can require you to buy a particular type of car.”
Rosenberger is Clark County coordinator for the Ohio Project, the grass-roots volunteers who led the drive to gather nearly 560,000 signatures to put Issue 3 on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Rosenberger and her husband gathered 7,000 signatures.
While passage of Issue 3 would prohibit the state from imposing an individual mandate, most legal experts have said the U.S. Supreme Court, not the vote on Issue 3, will determine whether the individual mandate in the federal health care plan is constitutional and applies to Ohioans. That’s because federal law trumps state law and state constitutions, these experts have said.
Christopher Maloney, Ohio Republican Party spokesman, explained the combined effort for Issues 2 and 3.
“The common sense reforms found in State Issues 2 and 3 are linked because they show Ohio is a state led by the will of taxpayers and consumers, not by government,” Maloney said in an email.
However, Jeff Longstreth, campaign manager for Ohioans for Healthcare Freedom, said
Rosenberger’s help is appreciated.
“We’re very appreciative of anyone who wants to help the issue,” Longstreth said.
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