By Stephen Koranda, Kansas Public Radio
TOPEKA, Ks. – The Kansas House today (Friday) gave approval to the so-called "Health Care Freedom Amendment" to the state constitution. The amendment is aimed at exempting Kansans from any federal requirement to purchase health insurance. It passed the House with a 91-27 vote but will likely face an uphill battle in the Senate.
Steve Morris, a Hugoton Republican, is president of the Senate. He generally doesn't favor constitutional amendments.
"We've been reluctant on the Senate side to do constitutional amendments unless we felt that was the only way we could get accomplished what needed to be accomplished," Morris says.
Opponents of the amendment say any federal law requiring health insurance would take precedence over Kansas law. The measure would have to be approved by the Kansas Senate before being put to a statewide vote.