In a surprise vote last Tuesday, Missouri voters came out to vote for Proposition C, a ballot referendum that aims at nullifying a key component of the new federal healthcare law that individuals be required to purchase health insurance. An overwhelming majority – 71 percent – of voters approved this referendum.
The referendum was intended to nullify the section of the law requiring individuals to obtain health insurance or face a tax penalty. Supporters hope it will send a strong signal to Washington that the federal government shouldn’t dictate people’s health care choices.
There was virtually no mention of Proposition C before Tuesday’s election. Even though a majority of voters approved the referendum, just a small fraction of Missouri residents were out voting that day.
It remains unclear on how this vote will impact the legislation. The insurance requirement won’t take effect until 2014. It’s expected that the courts will make some decision before that time on what is legal and how the law should be implemented.
A big question is what role states play in setting health care guidelines mandated by the federal government. Other states are filing lawsuits or enacting measures that invalidate the health care requirements. Oklahoma and Arizona residents are expected to vote on similar issues later this year.
This may just be the start of a very interesting public dialogue regarding the extent to which federal government is constitutionally empowered to dictate personal behavior. Missouri is typically a swing state and is also known as one of the states that sets the tone for the rest of the country, which is particularly newsworthy as we head to the polls in November.
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