Among the (at least) 10 ballot amendments that Floridians will vote on in November now includes a measure that would allow the state to opt-out of the federal health care reform legislation signed into law last month by President Obama.
The Florida Health Care Freedom Act, won approval in both houses of the state legislature yesterday. The measure was sponsored in the senate by Republican Carey Baker, who said after it was approved 26-11 that:
By passing the Florida Health Care Freedom Act, Floridians will now have the opportunity to add additional protections to the state constitution that will limit the health care reach of both the federal and the state governments. Floridians who oppose the federal imposition of Obamacare upon them now have the opportunity to go to the ballot box and opt themselves out of the system. Further, successful passage of the constitutional language will ensure that the state government will lack the power to impose a similar mandate of its own in the future.
There is one small problem with this, however, as the sponsor of the bill in the House, Republican Scott Plakon admits.
It may not be constitutional.
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2010.
