last updated 03/18/03, 4:00PM
From House Journal No. 21, 03/06/03
HCR 13, declaring the health rights of the citizens of New Hampshire.
MAJORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS.
Rep. Eric M. Daniels for the Majority of Health, Human Services
and Elderly Affairs: This resolution proposes the New Hampshire
Legislature establish a declaration of Health Rights applicable
for all citizens of New Hampshire and offers that all New Hampshire
citizens should enjoy the benefits of a healthy life as a "right".
The resolution goes on to include the establishment of additional
citizen rights, which include, among others; food, housing, clothing,
as well as medical care. The idea that all citizens should expect to
be cared for by the Government via entitlement programs is not new
yet continues to be offered for consideration through various measures
and programs. This resolution seeks to do that by asking the New
Hampshire House to declare a person’s right to public resources to
maintain an adequate standard of living, including a goal of universal
health care. What that standard might be is undefined. The Committee
felt the resolution would open up additional responsibilities and
enormous funding demands on government. Even though the committee
recognized that no health care system is perfect, we are proud of our
ongoing efforts to make health care available, especially to the
children of the state and in many circumstances to the people with
disabilities and the elderly. In the New Hampshire Constitution, the
Bill of Rights (Article 2) provides that each citizen has the natural
right, among others, of "seeking and obtaining happiness" for
themselves. This freedom is echoed in our country’s Declaration of
Independence in which it states we have the unalienable right to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The committee felt the
resolution proposed was far reaching and not attainable. As a result,
the committee concluded this resolution, although well intended was
only symbolic in nature. Vote 12-6.
Rep. Barbara C. French for the Minority of Health, Human Services
and Elderly Affairs: This resolution made a statement of caring for
our citizens by declaring health rights of the people of NH. The aim
of this resolution is to enable people to obtain their optimum health
status so that they may enjoy an equal quality of life with others.
Reps. French Espiefs spoke against.
Reps. McMahon and Batula spoke in favor.
Rep. French requested a roll call; sufficiently seconded.
The question being adoption of the majority committee report.
YEAS 248 NAYS 115