TOPEKA — Many Republican legislators are pushing proposals that protest the new federal health care reforms either by adding an amendment to the Kansas Constitution or joining a lawsuit by other states fighting the new law. State Sen. Pat Apple, R-Louisburg, supports such proposals. The federal health care reforms requires Americans to buy something – in this case private health insurance – which impinges on states’ rights and is incorrect, he said. He said he hopes legislators will come up with something when they return from recess at the end of the month. However, Rep. Tony Brown, D-Baldwin City, said such efforts are pointless. Federal law trumps state law, he said. When people urge him to support such efforts, he points out the example of the civil rights legislation of the 1960s in which Southern states tried to defy federal law – and failed. One attempt for putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot – which requires a two-thirds vote — has failed in the House.
Wednesday, March 31, 7:30 a.m.
