On Tuesday, the people of Missouri voted on The Missouri Health Care Exchange Question. This is a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment offered to voters as a ballot measure.
A legislatively-referred constitutional amendment is a limited form of direct democracy, in this case a voter determined nullification.
The ballot summary reads as follows….
Shall Missouri Law be amended to prohibit the Governor or any state agency, from establishing or operating state-based health insurance exchanges unless authorized by a vote of the people or by the legislature?
The measure passed overwhelmingly and is now an amendment to the Missouri State Constitution.
61% – YES
38% – NO
Gov. Jay Nixon acknowledged Thursday that Missouri will not be able to set up an online marketplace for residents to shop for health insurance as envisioned under President Barack Obama’s health care plan.
Nixon exclaims…
“The only option for Missouri at this time is to indicate that we will be unable to proceed with a state-based exchange absent a change in circumstances.”
But he then added…
“Let me be clear that a federally facilitated exchange is not the ideal approach. Regulating the insurance market is a power best left in the hands of the states.”
Nixon said he would prefer Missouri run its own insurance exchange, but that’s not possible.
Due to voters passing this measure barring the governor from taking steps to establish a state-run insurance exchange without legislative approval, this brings the process to a halt. The Legislature has not granted its approval, and is not scheduled to be in session until January, meaning lawmakers could not meet the Nov. 16 deadline even if they wanted to do so.
Regardless of the Governor’s somewhat skewed outlook on seeing this amendment as a road block instead of a decision, he has an obligation to his voters. If he doesn’t block this on principle, one might question his competence as an elected official.
Missouri is one state,that the legislature has not granted his approval.
http://www.medicaredelaware.com/
The elected officials in the state of Missouri have neglected their duties and failed Missouri. From the Republican controlled Legislature to the Democratic Governor, they should have all been voted out.
http://www.medicaremissouri.com
Then Nixon has done well to listen to the people. Although I was not in favor of this as an amendment to the State constitution–at the time it seemed the only way to make a definitve statement to all legislative authorities. The people of Missouri have voted to not accept the mandate of government run healthcare that we dubbed Obamacare at its beginning and to accept or recognize any part of the unconstitutional legislation passed by the 2010 Congress is to let the nose of the camel under the tent and pave the way for complete implementation.
Furthermore, it would behoove the citizens of Missouri to not honor any of the unconstitutional pieces of legislation in order for our state to declare state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. Please stand firm and make your voices heard.
@libertee09
Agreed. The citizens of Missouri should decide their own. Actually, each citizen should be able to determine his or her own will of healthcare coverage, but hopefully the States will recognize this freedom and follow the right path to ensure they are not imposing healthcare mandates and giving each citizen the freedom of choice.