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Health Foes Fight Mandatory Insurance at State Level

Efforts, mainly GOP-led, appear more symbolic, but could result in court battles

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 28, 2009 7:56 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Efforts are afoot in more than a dozen states to outlaw mandatory health insurance, a preemptive strike against federal health reform that, though mainly symbolic and constitutionally dubious, could provoke a court battle that would be costly and delay any plan passed by Congress. “I just don’t want the government getting between my decisions with my doctors,” a Republican behind the movement in Minnesota tells the New York Times.

“States can no more nullify a federal law like this than they could nullify the civil rights laws by adopting constitutional amendments,” one professor says of the efforts. While the push began in some states after Massachusetts made health insurance mandatory in 2006, the current debate has added a spark. “Tell me where in the US Constitution it says the federal government has the right to provide health care?” says the Minnesota Republican. “This is the essence of the debate.”

The Minnesota state legislature is among those where the push against mandatory health insurance is underway.
The Minnesota state legislature is among those where the push against mandatory health insurance is underway.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 18 comments
Face-Of-RNC
Sep 29, 2009 10:41 AM CDT
wait a minute, weren't you the one who just a few comments ago was in favor of government required insurance for cars? I thought you liked socialism!
Face-Of-RNC
Sep 29, 2009 10:37 AM CDT
jayster seems to have found a socialism he likes. 'We don't want no government healthcare, and stay away from my medicare.'
MarkFL
Sep 29, 2009 10:15 AM CDT
Besides, the government is not providing health care, they are providing insurance. That is not the same thing. They are doing it because the free market cannot do it (or at least they cannot do it all) and the federal government is and has been providing universal health care for a long time. The problem is that we do it soo badly that we waste taxpayer money like crazy. Everyone buys their own and whoever can't afford it gets to go to the emergency room. Now if you like that system, you must be a redneck.

 
health insurance • Massachusetts • Minnesota • US Constitution • health care reform • court cases • states' rights • Obama administration

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