What to expect:

I am including the recording of the meeting but the blog post below will contain much of the information from the video.

Now on to the written details. There is quite a bit here so ...

If you don’t know what the Public Health Commission or SEA4 was make sure you check out h4ml.org/gphcshorts.  You can watch from the inception of the commission through the passing of the legislation on that page. You may also find the download helpful.

Ultimately, counties were offered an increase in public health funding that they couldn’t refuse. Unfortunately, the bill also contains a dangerous loophole that is mutually exclusive with the statement maintaining county power.

Eligibility for funding hinges on compliance with administrative rules created by the Department of Health. These rules can be changed at any time and include compulsory testing, monitoring, and required vaccines.

All but about 20 counties have opted into the program.  You can check out the map here to find out about your county.

You can read more in the daily journal article. The article makes several commonsense arguments as to why the county did not opt-in to the program including additional strings that may be attached. Elected officials also state that they may consider the funding in the future but right now, the program is only two years and they have concerns if the program was cut in the future.

Great job Johnson County. 

COUNTIES CAN OPT OUT AT ANY TIME!

What better time to opt out than before the money is delivered?

During our meeting we talked about the power of one, and how one person is able to create great change. We are proud of our members taking action and making a difference.  One of our members was even able to publish an editorial in his local paper.  (Link to follow)

For now, we need YOU to exercise your power of one. 

Go meet with your elected and be sure to make it clear that commissioners should opt out (even if they already opted in) and state legislators must remove the loop-hole.

County commissioners:

1. Share the daily journal article.
2. Tell the Commissioners about the loophole that is mutually exclusive with the clause retaining county autonomy. (Citation source: IC 16-46-10-6)
3. Ask the commissioners if they are going to end programs and terminate employees if the funding isn’t renewed in two years OR if the Department of Health issues rules the county is unwilling to comply with.
4. Ask the commissioners how they will ensure a return on tax-payer investment within county health. Be clear that “population served” is not an acceptable means of measurement.

State Senator/State Representatives:

1. Tell them you want them to author and vote for the Bodily Integrity Act H4ML has proposed and they must correct any current law that may infringe on the inalienable right of bodily integrity.
2. Tell them, secondary to #1, you expect them to correct the error made when putting mutually exclusive statements in SEA4. They must remove the clause in IC 16-46-10-6, regarding administrative rules, that negates the county autonomy clause.

Bodily integrity is Medical Liberty.

We will settle for nothing less.

This means an end to medical mandates.
 
All other legislative actions for medical liberty are secondary to this one principle.
 
This is going to be a heavy lift, but ultimately, if we do not have the right to refuse an intrusion of our bodies, WE DO NOT OWN THEM.

If we do not demand bodily integrity now, we will never escape the constant and exhausting fight against “exemption law.”

Hoosiers we have a choice. We can secure our bodies or we can constantly be searching for the next bandaid for the issue.

I know that you will join me in this quest to secure Medical Liberty. Here is how you an help:

1. Sign the petition on our website now!
   
2. Invite your friends, family, & acquaintances to join as well!
3. Make an appointment to talk with your legislator about authoring and supporting the Bodily Integrity Act

 
Everyone can get important text updates by texting 260-286-0988 the word: INTEGRITY

We are diving into a difficult battle and one way we will be successful is through a renewed focus on our WATCHDOGS program.

Becoming a watchdog is an incredibly impactful way to contribute without

The purpose of watchdogs is to hold legislators accountable for actions and words. Our pack will connect periodically for those who wish. Other watchdogs may choose to operate as lone wolves while reporting back to H4ML via forms.

Primary responsibilities will be to develop an employer-employee relationship with the legislator, meet with them in person once per year. These meetings can often be held in your hometown. These bonus barks are not required but can be helpful to remind them you are watching. Watchdogs will also have 2-3 other points of dialog with the legislator in person, email or phone throughout the year. After each point of contact watchdogs will communicate back with H4ML.

After the recording stopped an important question was brought up regarding other legislation that might be offered and if H4ML activists should be supporting it too.

H4ML encourages it’s activists to be critical thinkers. Politics can make this a very difficult task.  I don’t want people to just “do what we say.” I want you to question our recommendations and be sure you know why you are doing the things we recommend. This is why I put so much time and energy into laying things out in the blog or through handouts.

I want our activists to QUESTION EVERYTHING!
 
When you are questioning if you should support legislation here are things to consider:

1. Is this legislation getting to the root of the problem or regulating it?
2. Will this add unnecessary laws and bloat the government?
3. Are legislators or other interested parties trying to distract me from what I really want?

 
Let’s dig into these three just a bit.

1. Getting to the root, or creating regulation:

Getting to the root of the issue is imperative if you don’t want a never-ending battle.  We know the issue of Medical Liberty is not an easy one. We are up against Goaliaths, but we will never secure the sovereignty of our bodies if we are constantly creating regulations. 
Regulatory bills often end up flipped, rather than creating “protections for some” they often create restrictions for many.

HB1001 (2022), the law for COVID-19 exemptions, is the perfect example of this.  We kicked this fight off in 2021 with SB 74 which would have prevented employers from requiring vaccines for their employees. The legislature turned this into exemptions with several exclusions that left those working in healthcare and entertainment without “protection.” Worse yet, this joke of a bill created a law that allows twice-weekly discriminatory testing against those using exemptions. 

In the best case scenarios regulatory bills become watered down and are essentially worthless but allow legislators the ability to falsely claim that they fought for your issue and then gaslight you when you demand accountability.

1. Will this create unnecessary laws & bloat the government:

The example above regarding HB1001 (2022) and the resulting testing is the perfect example of a bloated government.  The government should not be requiring testing, in fact this state law undermines religious discrimination protections. 

I am sure there are hundreds of examples of this but that novel will have to wait for another day.  Ultimately, we do not want to spend our time creating more and more laws, we should be living through constitutional principles and limiting government involvement as much as possible.
After all we are intelligent, thoughtful human beings who should be accountable for our actions. Society must not be reliant on the government to rule over every aspect of life.

1. Are legislators or other interested parties trying to distract me from what I really want?

This is a key. ALWAYS be asking “If I believe what they say, and do what they want, how do they benefit?”
Distraction is a political tactic and it can come in many forms.  This tactic often goes hand in hand with threats. For example, politicians like to threaten constituents with “loosing an opportunity,” especially when that opportunity requires less work from the politician, poses less of a political threat, and gets you off their backs. Politicians may say things like, “You are fighting an impossible battle” or “you are being unreasonable” after making disparaging comments they will offer up a cookie.  “I am with you, really.  You just don’t understand how things work around here.  What I can do for you is…”

Most of the time the tactic is not that obvious but be looking for this sort of pattern with politicians.  Once you spot it, recognition becomes easier. If you miss this tactic, don’t beat yourself up because they are trained professionals and have had plenty of practice.
 
We are currently working on classes to help you identify and stop these tactics. Make sure you stay tuned and sign up for future educational opportunities, sign up here.
 
That wraps up this monthly update. 

In Liberty,
Ashley & H4ML Team