Proposition C, also known as the Health Care Freedom Act, has been approved by Missouri voters overwhelmingly.
Prop C was placed on the ballot as a referendum after being passed by the Missouri Legislature and authorizes Missourians to opt out of the federal healthcare plan passed by Congress earlier this year.
The issue passed easily, 667,680 to 271,102, a margin of 71.1% to 28.9%.
“Tonight is a historic night,” said Lt. Governor Peter Kinder. “Missourians have the distinction of being the first Americans to go to the ballot box and reject the reckless federal health care takeover. From Massachusetts to Virginia to Missouri, voters are rejecting the extreme liberal agenda being forced upon our nation by an out-of-control federal government.”
Kinder has filed a lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of Missouri, claiming the federal healthcare plan is unconstitutional.
Clearly the measure is split down party lines.
Kinder is the only Republican to hold statewide office. Democrats Gov. Nixon and Attorney General Chris Koster did not support the move.
Sen. Jane Cunningham, a Republican, fostered the bill through the Missouri Senate.
“Missourians have sent Washington a clear message: stay out of our health care decisions,” she said. “For more than a year, Americans have taken to the streets to protest the federal government’s irresponsible agenda. Washington liberals didn’t listen when they rammed through Congress their reckless health care bill — but they can’t help but hear us now.”
Cunningham noted that Prop C does present a conflict with federal law and the case will likey come down to a decision by the Supreme Court.
She also noted that Prop C does not prevent Missourians from participating in the federal healthcare system, it simply gives them a choice.
Four other states will vote on a similar measure in upcoming primaries.
AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [1 min MP3]
