TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A proposed "Health Care Freedom Amendment" to the Kansas Constitution has failed in the Kansas House.
The House's 75-47 vote Tuesday came the same day President Barack Obama was to sign sweeping federal health care legislation into law.
Most House members wanted to send a message that they disapprove of the new federal law. But opponents fell nine votes short of the two-thirds majority necessary to adopt a proposed change in the state constitution.
The measure was designed to allow Kansas residents to avoid new federal health insurance requirements. It would have amended the state constitution to prohibit Kansas from requiring any individual or business to buy health insurance or from imposing fines on those who didn't.
