[Nettime-bold] URGENT ACTION - Civil Liberties at risk

[Eva Brunner <evabrunner@mindspring.com>]

Coupled with Bush's Shadow Government  "The Medical Emergency Powers Act" 
ought to pretty much sew up what is left of our rights:


The US Department of Health & Human Services is *suggesting* that each of 
the 50 states enact an "Emergency Medical Powers Act" (based on their 
guidelines) which would basically dismantle what is left of our civil 
liberties in the name of a "medical emergency" (read text below) which can 
be  proclaimed by a Governor at any time and for any reason - whether a 
health threat is real or perceived.  HHS is offering states lots of money 
to pass something by April 15. Most states have such serious budget 
shortfalls that they are going for it - most legislatures do not understand 
how seriously these bills will affect our civil liberties.  There is a 
petition to George W. Bush to urge him (ha ha) to stop HHS from pushing 
this insane bill. You can get to the petition at the link below.  Please 
read the text below for important information.

You can find out what's going on in your state by clicking on 
http://www.alec.org/  and then scrolling down to  ISSUE UPDATE: ALEC BEGINS 
TRACKING MEHPA IN THE STATES (and then clicking on that).

For lots of good info check out  http://www.aapsonline.org/

sign the petition:
http://www.aapsonline.org/alerts/emeralert.htm

Please contact me know if your would like more information


PLEASE READ AND PASS THIS INFO ON

PATIENT ALERT!!! ACTION NEEDED!!!


New State "Emergency" Powers Threaten Civil Liberties Unelected Officials 
Can Force Vaccinations, Quarantines, Rationing & Property Seizures

January 9, 2002 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is 
sending a model bill for state legislatures to pass that would give public 
health officials and governors sweeping new authority without oversight by 
the legislature or courts. Moreover, the proposal allows government 
authorities to ration and commandeer drugs and other items, including 
firearms and private property.

This bill would give the governor the power to declare himself dictator in 
case of a "public health emergency" -- which means whatever he says it 
does. Further, the governor could then delegate this authority to unelected 
political appointees in state and local public health offices.

The bill is so alarming that even state legislators are publicly opposing 
it, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the 
nation's largest bipartisan, individual membership organization of state 
legislators.

While ALEC's Director of the Health and Human Services Task Force 
acknowledges that safeguarding citizens from biological and chemical attack 
is a critical function of government, "We must take a much more 
deliberative approach in crafting effective policy without sacrificing the 
rights and liberties of individuals and families," said Jennifer King.

The proposed legislation, entitled the Model State Emergency Health Powers 
Act (MEHPA), is already under consideration in several states including 
Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Minnesota, Illinois, and California, while 
many states will consider the measure during the 2002 legislative sessions, 
according to King.

Upon declaring an emergency, the government could:

Force you to take a vaccination or a medical treatment decided by the 
Governor -- or be herded into a quarantine or isolation facility;
Seize any of your property that the government decided was necessary to 
cope with the emergency, such as real estate, fuel, medical supplies, food, 
clothing, and communication devices;
Destroy property alleged to be hazardous without compensation and without 
recourse;
Conscript you or your business into State service;
Impose rationing, price controls, and quotas, and control the 
transportation or use of any item deemed "reasonable and necessary for 
emergency response," and
Suspend any State rules that might hinder the program.

The Governor does not have to consult the public health authority, the 
legislature, or the courts. He does not have to answer to anyone, ever, for 
the consequences of his actions. HHS may try to bribe or coerce the 
legislature into passing this law by threatening to withhold federal funds 
for state Medicaid or other health programs.



HELP STOP THIS BILL!

SIGN THE PETITION (go to thw link above) . Urge President Bush to stop HHS 
from pushing this monstrous bill, Log on to www.aapsonline.org or call the 
AAPS Hotline at 800.419.4777

CONTACT STATE OFFICIALS. Tell legislators and your governor. Call the 
Legislative Hotline in your State Capitol.

SPREAD THE WORD. Tell colleagues, teachers, reporters, talk show hosts, 
business leaders;

ALERT AAPS. Send news clips or any other reports about efforts to introduce 
this bill in your state.

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