ShawneeDispatch.com

The health care debate is about to come to the streets of Shawnee.

Both Democratic and Republican groups are planning protests Saturday morning in the downtown Shawnee area, both related to a state constitutional “Health Care Freedom” amendment proposed by a local legislator.

The Kansas City Young Democrats announced Thursday they were organizing a “March for Health Care Reform” at 9:45 a.m., beginning in front of Shawnee Town near Johnson Drive and Cody Street and then proceeding east on Johnson Drive to City Hall.

The group say the protest’s purpose is to speak against the “Health Care Freedom” amendment proposed by Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee, and other Kansas Republicans, as well as show support for 3rd Congressional District Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Lenexa, in his intentions to support health care reform.

Pilcher-Cook joined several other Republican state lawmakers who toured around Kansas Oct. 27 pushing for the amendment, which would prohibit requiring Kansans to buy health insurance under a government plan.

The proposed amendment will be introduced during the legislative session that starts in January. It would have to be approved by two thirds of the House and Senate before it could go to the voters for consideration in November 2010.

“Through a multi-pronged approach, a variety of local activists have teamed up to ensure that Sen. Pilcher-Cook knows that her constituents will not be fooled into supporting a misleadingly worded amendment with the intention of denying Kansans the true choice of a public insurance option and more affordable care,” the Young Democrats said in a media release. “The citizens of Kansas deserve real health care reform, not empty rhetoric intended to benefit the health insurance industry.”

Americans for Prosperity, a group that opposes government expansion of health care and funded the Oct. 27 tour in support of the amendment, quickly organized a counter-protest. The organization sent out a request for those joining the counter-protest to meet at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive.

“This legislation is designed to protect the right of Kansans to make healthcare decisions with their doctors without letting the government in the examination room,” the Americans for Prosperity announcement reads. “… We urge you to take some time this Saturday to come and support our legislators working to protect your healthcare choices.”

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