Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined fellow Republicans in cosponsoring H.R. 4995, End the Mandate Act of 2010. The legislation, authored by Rep. Ron Paul, would restore the freedom to choose health insurance by repealing the mandate that all Americans obtain government-approved health insurance.

“There can be little doubt that the mandate to purchase health insurance in Obamacare is unconstitutional and needs to be removed,” said Congressman Mike Simpson. “I simply cannot accept that our Founding Fathers would permit the federal government to compel the purchase of a private product as a condition of citizenship. It is unprecedented, unwarranted, and un-American.”

Simpson went on to say that efforts among supporters of Obamacare to compare the mandate in the bill to requirements on automobile liability insurance are misguided. “Supporters of Obamacare often say, ‘You have to purchase car insurance, what is the difference?’ What they are missing is the freedom of choice. Individuals choose to buy and drive vehicles; it is not a requirement of citizenship. By mandating that all Americans purchase health insurance, the government is taking away your freedom to choose. We must repeal this mandate.”

H.R.4995 would repeal individual and employer mandates enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.