Some Wisconsin lawmakers want to amend the State Constitution to prohibit the federal government from requiring residents to purchase health insurance.
“Forcing people to buy a product — mandating that a person must buy a product — that is not constitutional to require people to purchase something.”
Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) says there is a vast amount of public opposition to the federal mandate, and that’s why she’s asking Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) to schedule a public hearing.
However, the chair of the Senate Health Committee says a hearing would be a waste of the limited amount of time remaining in the legislative session. “It is a waste of time and I think Senator Lazich knows it and she’s perhaps being a little disingenuous with people who support the idea.”
Erpenbach says the so-called “Health Care Freedom Amendment” is not necessary because attorneys general from several states are already involved in a federal lawsuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court has the final say — not state legislatures.
Lazich, a ranking member of the Senate Health Committee, says at the very least, a public hearing would allow people to voice their opinions.
Anyone refusing to buy insurance by 2014 could face a $700 fine per person, over $2,000 per family or 2.5 percent of household income.
Lazich attended a press conference Wednesday morning, along with State Senator Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) and State Representative Robin Vos (R-Caledonia) to discuss Senate Joint Resolution 62.
Jackie Johnson report 1:54