DENVER, Colo. - The U.S. House and Senate are expected to hammer out a health care reform package early next year. But there is a growing move in Colorado to "undo" whatever Washington does.
"Quite simply, we should have a say in this...if we want 'ObamaCare' to be shoved down the throat of Coloradans," says Jon Caldara with the Independence Institute, a conservative think tank based in Golden.
Colorado is one of more than a dozen states considering such ballot initiatives. Caldara says he will launch a petition drive in January which would seek to put a state constitutional amendment on the ballot next November.
Caldara says the amendment would do three things. It would reverse any federal mandate requiring Coloradans to purchase health insurance. He says it would also preserve the private health insurance market, and it would allow Coloradans to shop across state lines for the best insurance deal.
Caldara would need more than 76,000 signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. There is also some movement in the Colorado state legislature to pass state laws that would blunt any federal health reform packages.
Critics say we should wait and see what the final federal health reform package does, before the state takes any action.
Caldara says it's a matter of states versus federal rights.
"That's really the issue of 'ObamaCare.' Does Washington have the right to trump your health care decisions here in Colorado? And are we able to make our own health care policies and decisions through the laws we have in this state?," says Caldera.
Any state changes would likely end up in a court challenge.
"Quite simply, we should have a say in this...if we want 'ObamaCare' to be shoved down the throat of Coloradans," says Jon Caldara with the Independence Institute, a conservative think tank based in Golden.
Colorado is one of more than a dozen states considering such ballot initiatives. Caldara says he will launch a petition drive in January which would seek to put a state constitutional amendment on the ballot next November.
Caldara says the amendment would do three things. It would reverse any federal mandate requiring Coloradans to purchase health insurance. He says it would also preserve the private health insurance market, and it would allow Coloradans to shop across state lines for the best insurance deal.
Caldara would need more than 76,000 signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. There is also some movement in the Colorado state legislature to pass state laws that would blunt any federal health reform packages.
Critics say we should wait and see what the final federal health reform package does, before the state takes any action.
Caldara says it's a matter of states versus federal rights.
"That's really the issue of 'ObamaCare.' Does Washington have the right to trump your health care decisions here in Colorado? And are we able to make our own health care policies and decisions through the laws we have in this state?," says Caldera.
Any state changes would likely end up in a court challenge.
