(Annie Black) – I spoke at Americans for Prosperity’s “Stand for Freedom: Hands Off My Healthcare Rally” at the Nevada State Legislature last week on SB420, a bill sponsored by Democrat Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro to create a state-based version of ObamaCare.
Here’s a transcript of my remarks…
How many of you think the government-run public schools are doing a fantastic job educating our kids? (If you raised your hand, you can stop reading now)
So why would we think a government-run public health system would be different?
Actually, we don’t have to think. We know.
Despite all the false promises made about ObamaCare, the reality is the cost of premiums went up, the cost of deductibles went up and you lost your ability to choose your doctor.
The fact is, there is no problem in this country today that government CAN’T & WON’T make worse.
So instead of creating a Nevada mini-version of the of the ObamaCare failure with CannizzaroCare, here are 5 simple market-based reforms…
1.) Allow private insurance companies to sell across state lines, and licensed doctors and nurses to practice across state lines.
2.) Allow individuals, especially younger people, to buy catastrophic insurance policies that don’t cover simple doctor’s visits but protect people from major health problems.
3.) If there’s one silver lining behind the coronavirus cloud, it’s that more and more people were forced to learn how to do Zoom meetings and such. To the extent that certain medical services can be provided at a far cheaper cost via telemedicine without risking patient safety, we should be encouraging it.
4.) If we can provide food vouchers to let people choose their own grocery story, we should provide medical vouchers so people can choose their own health insurance policy rather than creating another new, expensive healthcare bureaucracy.
5.) Can you imagine going into a restaurant where there are no prices on the menu and you just have to hope you can afford it when the check comes? Well, that’s pretty much exactly what patients face when they go into a doctor’s office today. We need price transparency.
As Ronald Reagan famously said in his first inaugural address – which, by the way, was the same day I was born! – “Government is not the solution to our problem; government IS the problem.”
If you want to make the health insurance problem in Nevada worse, pass CannizzaroCare.
Me? I didn’t just vote no. I voted HELL NO! But the Democrats passed it anyway and it’s on its way to the Governor’s desk.
Click here to share YOUR thoughts with Gov. Sisolak on this or any other bill.
UPDATE: Maskerpiece Theater and “Blacklisting”
Yes, legal options are still being explored over the Democrats “Blacklisting” me and voting to strip my voting rights on the floor of the Assembly for refusing to wear a mask or produce a “vaccine passport.”
And in doing some further research in the “selective persecution” by Speaker Jason Frierson and the Legislative Counsel Bureau, we found this example from earlier in the session before the CDC changed its indoor mask recommendations.
Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty addressed the Assembly Chamber on March 25, 2021. Before beginning his prepared remarks, he announced…
“With permission from your leadership, I was able to remove my mask.”
So an exception for he, but not for me.
What was the “science” behind the decision to allow Judge Hardesty to perform in the Assembly Chamber without a mask during the time period when the CDC was still mandating masks for everyone?
This, in addition to Speaker Frierson allowing Chief Clerk Susan Furlong to perform mask-free in the Assembly Chamber for almost three months until I raised a stink about it.
It’s never been about science. It’s always been about compliance. And politics.
NEW ON ANNIE-TV
If you haven’t seen our new video on “vaccine passports” produced by our friends at Harris Media, click here.
WHERE’S ANNIE?
We’ve been getting a lot of email and social media requests asking where I’ll be speaking and attending events so folks can come say hi. So I’ve added a new page to our campaign website: “Where’s Annie?”
Will try to keep it updated on a regular basis and look forward to seeing many of you IN PERSON over the coming weeks and months! We have a LOT to catch up on.
QUICK HITS
* And now…the end is near. The 2021 legislative session will mercifully come to an end at midnight tonight. A lot of damage has already been done by the Democrats. A lot more is yet to come before “sine die” is gaveled down tonight. The fight to retake the Nevada Legislature in 2022 begins tomorrow. We ride at dawn.
* The slam-and-jam process of introducing bills and amendments at the last minute is in full force. Not only don’t legislators have time to read and understand the bills before voting on them, but neither do you. This is no way to do the people’s business. Every bill should be posted online for at least 48 hours before being voted on.
I had a bill for that which was killed by the Democrats.
* There’s another “process” issue that’s as dry as it is important. In a nutshell: Let’s say the Assembly passes a bill on a recorded vote. The bill then goes over to the Senate where it’s changed and then passed on a recorded vote. But when the altered bill comes back to the Assembly, they often approve the amended bill on a “concur/do not concur” voice vote.
This is wrong and arguably unconstitutional. We’re looking into taking legal action on this, as well.
* We’ve gone from 880 followers on Twitter to over 3,000 in less than two weeks! Our message has now extended beyond Nevada’s borders and is reaching folks all over the country. Not sure boosting my name ID nationwide is what the Democrats intended when they “Blacklisted” me, but…thanks, guys!
* A teacher in Utah pulled out his concealed-carry weapon and stopped a kidnapper from abducting an 11-year-old student on school grounds. This is why Nevada needs a “campus carry” law. So-called “gun-free zones” disarm the good guys & only protect the bad guys.
BATTLEGROUND ’22 SURVEY COMING TO YOU MANANA
As noted above, we launch the 2022 campaign season first thing tomorrow morning even though we still won’t be allowed to fundraise for 30 days.
In the meantime, I want to “take the pulse” of Annie’s Army. So tomorrow I’m going to send you a link to a short, 5-question online survey I hope you’ll consider filling out.
It deals with the future of the GOP and President Trump, the 2022 governor’s race, what to do about Republican primaries, the leadership of the Nevada Republican Party and…
What political advice you would give ME for 2022?
Can’t wait to read everyone’s responses!
FROM THE ANNIE-GRAM MAILBAG
“Loved ‘Faces of Furlong.’ There are few things more emotionally satisfying that seeing a Leftist slapped in the face with their own hypocrisy.” – Kevin Knapp
“Annie – your Maskerpiece Theater is better than anything on Netflix! You are inspiring so many of us to take stronger stands against all the injustices we see.” – Bev Stenehjem
“Showing a photo of your accuser not wearing a mask in EVERY session…. priceless. A great way to fight the hypocrisy, keep it up.” – Hank Garvin
“Assemblywoman Annie Black, thank you for your convictions, along with Assemblywoman Dickman. Unfortunately, you two are the only ones it appears, with none of your weak-kneed male colleagues willing to stand with you.” – Jim Shedd
“The Dems are upset because you dare to question their authority and make fun of their pompous attitudes. They will be after you as long as you keep putting this back in their faces. Keep it up, the tide will turn.” – Jim Gregory
“How I wish all elected officials had your ability to get the job done. I hope you run for Congress real soon. That’s where you need to be to help us. Love you, Annie.” – Robert Brown
“You keep standing up for what is right and your Army will have your back! If you do decide to take legal action we will be there to support you as soon as the 30-day fundraising restriction is over.” – Steve and Christina Balek
“You have a lot of support and when you are ready to start a defense fund, please contact me
Keep up the good fight, we don’t have enough Americans standing up.” – Ted Farace
“Stand fast, Annie, and hold your–no, OUR ground! We’re with you; don’t you dare let these immature, self-serving twits weaken your spirit. You are on the right side of history!” – John Budd, Mesquite, NV
“I wish you were our representative. You stand up for the right things, bring light to subjects others avoid. You’re doing great. Don’t stop.” – Mark Craven, Las Vegas, NV
“I have done my best to keep silent and diligently obey the rules up until this point. But after watching your statement on the Assembly floor yesterday regarding the hypocritical and unscientific mask policy, I nearly jumped out of my chair and cheered. Your continued fight against the left has been inspiring to watch this session. I applaud your logical and well-thought-out stances on the issues, your principled and unwavering ideals, and your unwillingness to bend on any of them despite the looming threats from opposition leadership. In short, you are my hero. I am one of your ‘adopted’ constituents and a proud member of Annie’s Army. I can only wish my representative had half the guts that you do.” – Name withheld
MEMORIAL DAY QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” – Winston Churchill
Annie Black is the Nevada State Assemblywoman representing District 19. You can get more information and subscribe to her AnnieGram newsletter by visiting www.AnnieBlack.net
