Missouri’s Senate recently decided to send implementation of the health insurance exchange program mandated by President Obama’s health care law to the voters, taking the first step toward turning the exchange into a ballot issue which could be sent to the voters in November.
Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon supports implementation, but the Republican-led legislative branch has pushed back against the implementation of this key element of the president’s health care agenda, which would create a government-run marketplace for purchasing insurance.
Senate Bill 464 prohibits the establishment of an exchange in the state via executive order, requiring either approval from the General Assembly or at the ballot box. Missouri’s Senate passed the bill by a 25-8 vote—it must now pass the House before going to voters.
This would not be the first ballot issue in the state to reject a mandate from the federal government. In 2010 Missouri voted overwhelmingly in favor of Proposition C, which prohibited any mandatory purchase of insurance. If Missouri voters supported an exchange, officials would be required to implement a state-produced program by 2014 or turn over control to the federal government.
http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2012/03/01/missouri-may-put-exchange-implementation-ballot
Hat Tip: Heartland.org
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