Amendment to block insurance mandate fails
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BY JOHN HANNA
Associated Press
Find more government news and insights on The Eagle's Wichitopekington blog
TOPEKA — A proposed change in the Kansas Constitution aimed at blocking the state from implementing new federal health insurance mandates failed Tuesday in the state House, the same day President Obama signed sweeping federal legislation into law.
The vote on the Health Care Freedom Amendment was 75-47. But supporters needed a two-thirds majority, or 84 of 125 votes, for passage of what many of them view as the strongest possible statement against the new federal law.
The measure would add a new section to the state constitution to prohibit Kansas from requiring any individual or business to buy health insurance or from imposing fines if they don't. If the measure succeeded, Kansas would be in conflict with the new federal law's mandate for most Americans to purchase coverage, starting in 2014.
Supporters argued that amending the constitution would bolster Kansas' position for a legal challenge to the new federal law. They also said it would be the best way to make a statement because an amendment would have to be adopted by a majority of voters.
Some states already have challenged the new law. Attorneys general from 13 other states sued the federal government Tuesday moments after the president signed the bill, claiming it is unconstitutional because it is an unfunded mandate and exceeds federal powers.
Read more:
http://www.kansas.com/2010/03/24/1238910/amendment-to-block-insurance-mandate.html#ixzz0j8mSVjWO
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