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Arkansas Referendum on the Healthcare Independence Act of 2013 (2014)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Arkansas Referendum on the Health Care Independence Act of 2013 did not make the 2014 election ballot as a veto referendum in the state of Arkansas. The measure, which was sponsored by the group Arkansans Against Big Government, would have repealed the healthcare act, also known as the "private option," which was signed into law in April 2013 and uses federal money to fund health care for low-income residents. Gov. Mike Beebe (D) signed the private option into law as an alternative to expanding Medicaid.[1][2] The referendum can be read here.
Background
In Arkansas, the "private option" was approved by legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Arkansas will receive money from the federal government that is meant to be put towards the expansion; instead, the funds will be used to purchase private insurance for approximately 250,000 low-income Arkansans.[2]
Support
The measure was sponsored by the group Arkansans Against Big Government, which was led by former congressional candidate Glenn Gallas.[1] Regarding the private option, Gallas said, "It's going to affect every citizen in every walk of life and I believe the people should have their voice in whether they want it or they don't want it." He believed that voters would reject the private option.[2]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Initiative process in Arkansas
On April 11, 2013, the House passed HB 1143 with a vote of 62-37.[3]
| Arkansas Private Option Health Care Bill, HB 1143 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 62 | 62% | ||
| No | 37 | 37% | ||
On April 16, 2013, the Senate passed the bill 26-9.[3]
| Arkansas Private Option Health Care Bill, HB 1143 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 26 | 74% | ||
| No | 9 | 26% | ||
The full text of HB 1143 can be found here.
Supporters of the measure had to collect 46,880 valid signatures in order to send the measure to the November 2014 ballot.
On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, the Attorney General Dustin McDaniel approved the language of the measure, giving supporters the green light to begin gathering the required signatures.[2]
On August 14, 2013, the head of Arkansas Against Big Government announced that the group did not have enough signatures to qualify the measure for the 2014 ballot, as they collected only 26,000 of the 46,880 required signatures.[4]
See also
- Arkansas 2014 ballot measures
- 2014 ballot measures
- Arkansas Initiative Law
- Arkansas signature requirements
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Arkansas Times, "Attorney General gives okay on "private option" referendum," June 11, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Arkansas Business, "Arkansas Attorney General OKs Wording of Medicaid Ballot Measure," June 12, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 OpenStates.org, "HB 1143: Arkansas House Bill - To Create The Health Care Independence Act Of 2013; And To Declare An Emergency," accessed July 3, 2013
- ↑ NWAonline.com, "Arkansas group falls short in health law repeal effort," August 14, 2013
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State of Arkansas Little Rock (capital) |
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