Senate debates health care freedom act

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Wrap: Partisan debate went on for hours in the Senate about an act that seeks to let Missourians opt out of federal health care reform.

Bill sponsor Senator Jane Cunningham, a Republican from St. LOuis County, says Missourians want their freedom from the federal government.

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Description: "There's been an uprising around this country in response to the federal mandates and the removal of their freedoms to choose the kind of health care and medical services that people want."

Senate Democrats filibustered the act saying it was trying to undo what the federal government had accomplished in health care.

The act would need statewide voter approval to become a state constitutional amendment.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Sami Hall.

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Wrap: Senate Democrats filibustered an act that would let Missourians opt out of federal health care reform.

Democratic Senator Rita Heard Days from St. Louis filibustered the act saying the act would hurt Missourians.

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Description: "It couches itself in health care freedoms. This is not anything to do with freedom. There are prohibitions if this is passed. We will not be allowed to implement the federal program. So how does that allow anyone to have freedom?"

Bill sponsor Senator Jane Cunningham, a Republican from St. Louis County, says the bill gives Missourians more choices.

The act would need statewide voter approval to become a state constitutional amendment.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Sami Hall

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Wrap: Wearing an American flag tie, Republican Senator Jane Cunningham from St. Louis County said her act upholds freedom.

The act would let Missourians decide if they want a constitutional amendment letting them opt out of federal health care reform.

Cunningham said Wednesday that the act will probably go to the US Supreme Court.

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Description: "It will trigger a US Supreme Court showdown over states' rights. State sovereignty, free market, and inidividual liberty are now at stake."

Senate Democrats filibustered the bill saying it is unconstitutional and would undo new federal health care reform.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Sami Hall

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Wrap: Democrats and Republicans in the Senate can all agree on one thing: the health care act they debated on Wednesday will probably end up in the US Supreme Court.

The act would let Missourians opt out of federal health care reform.

The act was filibustered for hours by Democrats who said it violates the US Constitution.

Republican Senator Jack Goodman from Mt. Vernon says he hopes the courts will protect states' rights over the federal government.

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Description: "We have sovereignty as a state to challenge those actions of the federal government that overreach beyond its ennumerated powers. And I would like to see our attorny general come forward and file a challenge on behalf of the state."

Goodman says he isn't sure what the attorney general will do yet.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Sami Hall.