Minnesota Healthcare Freedom Act (2010)
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Minnesota Healthcare Freedom Act did not appear on the 2010 statewide ballot in the state of Minnesota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. As of May 17, 2010, the end of the legislative session, lawmakers had failed to approve the proposed measure for the ballot.[1]
The proposed Healthcare Freedom Act was a proposal under consideration by some members of the Minnesota State Legislature to place a measure before voters similar to the Arizona Health Insurance Reform Amendment (2010).[2] According to reports, the proposed constitutional amendments would have stopped federal intervention on health care choices.
Backers of such amendments were opposed to President Barack Obama’s new health care plans. The measure did not advocate a particular plan but measure advocates said the measure would "protect the individual’s right to make health care decisions." Opponents of the measures and some constitutional scholars said the proposals were mostly symbolic, intended to send a message of political protest, and had little chance of succeeding in court over the long run.[3]
Path to the ballot
Proposed amendments required agreement by a majority of the members of each chamber of the Minnesota State Legislature. However, by the end of the legislative session on May 17, 2010 the measure failed to garner sufficient approval to qualify for the 2010 ballot.[1]
Similar measures in other states
Groups in Indiana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming are considering a similar proposal. Two of these states (North Dakota and Wyoming) allow ballot initiatives; in the other three states, the state legislature would have to vote it onto the ballot using their state's procedure for constitutional amendments.[2]
- Arizona Health Insurance Reform Amendment (2010)
- Oklahoma Healthcare Freedom Amendment, State Question 756 (2010)
Missouri Healthcare Freedom, Proposition C (2010)
Indiana Healthcare Freedom Act
New Mexico Healthcare Freedom Act (2010)
North Dakota Healthcare Freedom Act (2010)
Wyoming Healthcare Freedom Act (2010)
See also
Articles
Additional reading
- Minnesota Public Radio, "What didn't happen in the 2010 legislative session," May 17, 2010
- World Magazine, "2010 Preview: Ballot initiatives are a way for citizens to settle an issue directly without state legislatures," January 16, 2010
- Los Angeles Times, "One nation, insured," November 16, 2009
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pioneer Press, "What did — and didn't — get done by legislators," May 17, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fox News, "State Lawmakers Considering Move to Opt Out of Federal Healthcare," June 25, 2009
- ↑ New York Times, "Healthcare Overhaul and Mandatory Coverage Stir States’ Rights Claims," September 28, 2009
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