Senate passes bill to ban mandated health insurance

Government-mandated health insurance would be banned under a measure that passed the state Senate.

The plan that passed the Senate would amend Wisconsin's constitution. In addition to banning mandatory health insurance, the plan would prohibit any law that requires participation in any health care system or plan. It's being pushed by Republicans like Frank Lasee of De Pere in response to the federal health care law, known as the Affordable Health Care Act, "There's a whole bunch of stuff we can't afford. That's life. But if you can afford it you buy it if you want it. And this amendment is about providing for peoples' ability in Wisconsin to have that choice."

But Democrat Julie Lassa of Stevens Point questioned whether the plan was written so broadly that it would also ban Medicare, "Medicare is a health care plan. You know, we all have money taken out of our paycheck in order to pay for it. And it is something that is mandated that all these individuals participate in from the federal government."

The proposal would need to pass the Assembly, pass the full legislature again next session and be approved by voters to take effect. Even then, it's questionable whether it could have any affect on federal law.

Tags: wisconsin legislature, news, wisconsin, health