President Barack Obama's executive order that establishes tougher gun control measures will wrongly allow the government to have greater access to Americans' private health information, Rep. Marsha Blackburn tells
Newsmax TV.
"When you look at his executive order on guns you have to say it's more than just about the gun or this one executive order," Blackburn said Thursday on "The Steve Malzberg Show."
"They're saying well we want to waive this part of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which is patient privacy for healthcare information….
"They're saying well in the realm of mental health, people need to be able to have access to that information, if it is someone who is a relative."
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She said while most people agree with the idea of weeding out mentally ill people and preventing them from having guns, the issue is more complex.
"Here's his problem. We have been trying to deal with a mental health bill, so if the president wants to talk about mental health and the impact it has on crime, then he is welcome to come to The Hill and talk with us," she said.
"He cannot waive laws by executive order, which is what he does with his executive order," she said.
On Tuesday, Obama shed tears as he announced his plan to address the national "sense of urgency" to limit gun violence.
The commander-in-chief was introduced by Mark Barden, whose son Daniel was shot dead during the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut three years ago.
"Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad," Obama said. "And by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day."
Obama's plan calls for expanded background checks for buyers and those "in the business of selling firearms" to register as licensed gun dealers which would create better record keeping.
Blackburn said Congress has already begun work in revamping parts of the HIPAA privacy act which could be compromised by the executive order.
"If he wants to waive this and say 'well, we want family members to have access to this information,' but he is doing this through executive order, then what keeps the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] from getting that information?" she asked.
"And, of course, the administration has recently said they want CDC to look at guns and health and the connection. So I'm very suspicious of what they are trying to do here as you look at this.
"The president has a history of overreach and he also has a history of trying to change federal law through executive order. Most presidents, previous presidents, have issued executive orders to tend to administrative items."
On Thursday night, Obama will host a town meeting on gun safety, moderated by CNN — one the National Rifle Association says it will not attend.
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