Local residents gather signatures on health care, estate taxes, more

A few local residents are gathering signatures to help get three proposed amendments to Ohio's Constitution in front of voters in November.

Celina resident Nancy Wheeler and other members of the Peoples Constitution Coalition of Ohio (PCCOH) are seeking signatures for the petitions of the Ohio Sovereignty Amendment, the Healthcare Freedom Amendment and the Ohio Estate Tax Elimination Act.

Wheeler, who is regional petition chairwoman for PCCOH, will be taking signatures on Saturday, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., in front of the former Laudick's jewelry store, located at the south end of the North Main Street Shopping Center in Celina.

PCCOH petitioners statewide are seeking to obtain at least 400,000 signatures for each issue by the June 30 deadline to get the issues on the November general election ballot, Wheeler said.

"We're shooting for double that (number) to make sure we have enough certified signatures," she said.

According to Wheeler, the Ohio Sovereignty Amendment proposes to peacefully reclaim Ohio's Constitutional heritage and mandate that government maintain its integrity within the narrow parameters of the state and federal constitutions. This amendment was submitted for petition by PCCOH.

The Health Care Freedom Amendment proposes that no law or rule in Ohio would compel any person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health care system, Wheeler wrote in a press release. It also proposes that no law or rule shall prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health insurance, nor impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of health care or health insurance.
This amendment and the e-
state tax elimination act were submitted for petition by Ohio citizens.

Wheeler said the Ohio Estate Tax Elimination Act would end the state's estate tax effective Dec. 31, 2012, through the enactment of statutory changes in the Ohio Revised Code.

"All eligible Ohio voters are urged to sign to enable these proposals to be put on the November ballot, allowing the opportunity for Ohio voters to give back the freedom and political power to we, the people," Wheeler wrote in the press release.

Wheeler told the newspaper that if not enough signatures are collected for placement on the ballot, volunteers will continue gathering signatures for the next eligible election.

Failure to meet the June 30 deadline would give the organization more time to educate the public about the proposals.

"I think it's highly possible ... if we all keep working together," she said about the upcoming deadline.

Wheeler said she joined PCCOH last year because she felt the nation has gone away from its forefathers' framework and vision and its constitutional values. She said at least 10 volunteers have sought signatures in Mercer and Auglaize counties for the proposed amendments.

"I'm tickled with the efforts of the others," she said.

Virginia Wood of Celina, who is helping Wheeler, said she wants voters to exercise their rights and decide on the issues for themselves.

"I think it's very important that we get these petitions signed," she said.

Many election officials are not recognizing the sovereignty of the American people, she said.

"I think the people need to decide this and not the regime in Washington," she said.