Oklahomans Opposed To Health Care Bill Say Fight Isn't Over

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Oklahomans who oppose the health care bill say they weren't exactly shocked the vote passed, but they say the fight isn't over and they're outraged.

"We have laws. The laws say they can't do it. They can't take your money and give it to me," said JW Berry, of OKforTEA.

Berry says the government should have no power over his health care.

"The highest law of the land is the constitution. If somebody wants to change that, if they can convince three-fourths of the states to a constitutional convention that says the federal government has the power to regulate healthcare, I'll go for it. Right now it is illegal for them to do that," said Berry.

"Kill the Bill! Kill the Bill! Then we called Nancy and we'd say "Naaaaanccccy, we the people and we will remember in November,'" said Rhonda Vuillemont-Smith of Tulsa 912 Project.

Other Oklahoman's took their protests straight to Capitol Hill.

"I went because I felt this was the last stand, like Custer's Last Stand," said Vuillemont-Smith.

"There's thousands of people all around the capitol chanting, ‘vote no, vote no.' Very upset and they've driven from all over the country," said Rep. John Sullivan -- (R) Oklahoma.

Oklahoma congressmen universally opposed the legislation, but Rep. Sullivan says he wasn't surprised the vote passed.

"No, they always seem to get them at the end. A lot of these Democrats will hold out, hold out but they always seem to cave in at the end," said Sullivan.

Sullivan says the people really have the votes and they'll vote in November.

"This is a big deal. There could be unrest, is what I'm getting at. There are people that understand that our government is way out of bounds," said Berry.

Republican leaders in the Oklahoma legislature want Democratic Attorney General Drew Edmondson to challenge the constitutionality of the healthcare reform. At least ten states have agreed to file a lawsuit challenging the legislation. 

3/22/2010  Related Story: Representative Dan Boren Weighs In On Health Care Vote