CREEDE HINSHAW: New law limits freedom of speech for state employees

In the 1830s the state of Virginia, terrified by its own slaves and fearful that abolition would destroy the rich planter society, passed a law prohibiting white citizens from even discussing slavery or abolition. Once the leading state in the republic, Virginia gradually grew intellectually and fiscally bankrupt.

Although our Georgia lawmakers haven’t quite descended to Virginia’s fearful, anxious level, they took an ominous step closer with a new law signed by Gov. Nathan Deal. I can’t get arrested for writing this column, at least not this year. But I would be a criminal if I were to write this column as an employee of the State of Georgia.

It is now illegal for any person remotely employed by the State of Georgia to even breathe a slightly encouraging word about expanding our Medicaid rolls or enrolling persons in Obamacare. Just one slip of the tongue or ink pen and a state employee is in Big, Big Trouble. A state employee who offers verbal support for Obamacare is committing a criminal act. Going yet further Georgia now bans – when funds expire – the only institution in the entire state that helps citizens sign up for this health care.

This suppressive new law is called the Georgia Health Care Freedom Act, an Orwellian subterfuge that would make Vladimir Putin proud: criminalizing speech and calling it “freedom.”

As a pastor and a Christian, let me say as clearly as possible while it is still legal for an ordinary citizen to say so: the poor, the uninsured and those who are most vulnerable in our state, including children, teens, expectant mothers, the elderly and the uninsurable should be able to receive help in signing up for the new healthcare program.

Jesus was keenly interested in healing persons. The church from its earliest days has advocated for healing. The church – in its finest hour – has never walked away from the poor in the religious or public arena. The church – when obedient to Jesus – has championed the cause of the poor. The church should be competing with the Tea Party for seats in the hearing room when censorious laws such as this are proposed.

Those who run our state seem unconcerned that we are near the bottom of the barrel in access to healthcare. They wring their hands, shake their heads and weep because we can’t do more, claiming as state Rep. Jason Spencer, R-Woodbine, the bill’s sponsor, that we can’t afford to help poor people. We’d have to cut transportation or education or public safety, says Spencer. Spenser’s budget logic advocates pouring asphalt rather than protecting the poor, building prisons rather than providing preventative care and blaming teachers and their salaries for their chronically ill students.

Who will issue guidelines telling our DFCS caseworkers how to lie when a poor person asks for help in signing up for Obamacare? Maybe caseworkers will have to tell the truth: “Obamacare? I can’t help you. I can’t even tell you if there is such a thing as Obamacare or even a president named Obama. If you’d like to talk about our interstate highway system or teachers’ salaries or how we’re balancing the state budget on your shoulders we can have a pleasant discussion.”

And what exactly is the penalty for helping the poor? I couldn’t find it spelled out in the law. But you can bet your First Amendment rights that state employees — whether or not they work with the poor — will take no chances. Better safe than sorry. Shrug the shoulder; look at the wall; smile wanly, grit your teeth. Don’t email your co-workers; don’t text or twitter if you support Obamacare. And if you work for DFCS just hope that your clients are middle class folk with guaranteed health care.

One can have legitimate complaints about Obamacare. The new law is not perfect. And Georgia is not the only state throwing obstacles in the way of those who most need help. But with this Big Brother law Georgia has descended to a new low. Rep. Spencer boasts, “Other states are watching what we Georgians are doing.” Sadly, this is one of Mr. Spencer’s most accurate observations. They’re watching with horror.