Legislators push amendment to protect private health insurance

Senate Democrats made a big splash last summer with their universal health care reform plan.

But a pair of state lawmakers want to protect residents from government health care plans and their right to have private insurance. Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) and Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) are asking fellow members to co-sponsor an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution that would explicitly give people the right to enter into private contracts with health care providers and to purchase health care coverage. "The Legislature may not require any person to participate in any state-sponsored health care system or plan," the language reads.

Vukmir and Kanavas said those rights are fundamental liberties, but are under attack in Wisconsin.

"The state should not have the power or authority to compel its citizens to participate in a state-sponsored health care system," they wrote.

The amendment would need to pass both houses of the Legislature in two consecutive sessions before it could go to voters health club.