House Passes Health Care Compact Bill

Wed, February 22, 2012

KPR

Kansas House members say the state should have the right to join an interstate compact to fight federal rules for health care programs. The House passed a bill Tuesday arguing for the change. It’s a protest from the Republican-dominated Legislature against health care policies pushed by President Barack Obama. The bill says states should run programs like Medicaid and Medicare as they see fit. Representative John Rubin, a Republican from Shawnee, supported the bill.

“We, here in Kansas, know better than the federal government does how best to provide health care for our citizens,” Rubin said.

Opponents of the legislation say it is largely symbolic, because Congress would have to approve a multi-state compact. “This bill probably does nothing, the way it is,” said Geraldine Flaharty, a Wichita Democrat. “It would require Congressional action for anything to happen in the future.”

The measure advanced on an 80 to 37 vote. The bill is expected to pass on final action Wednesday and go to the Senate.