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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Missouri Tries To 'Opt Out' Of Federal Health Reform

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Tuesday, May 18, 2010   

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri is the latest state to let their people voice their opinions about federal health care reform passed earlier this year. Voters go to the polls in August to decide whether to amend state statutes to 'opt out' of the mandate to purchase private health insurance.

Andrea Routh, the executive director of the Missouri Health Advocacy Alliance, says federal reform needs to be improved through implementation, as she says is the case with all major pieces of legislation.

"And if the people approve that ballot measure, we would be undoing part of the reform that makes those insurance reforms work for people, things like pre-existing condition exclusions."

Routh says lawmakers on both sides of the debate agree the vote will likely bring about lawsuits challenging the referendum.

"So it's kind of a waste of money on lawsuits, when we could be working with our legislators and our state and federal agencies to implement the law in a way that would work."

Supporters of the opt-out referendum are putting it before voters because of concerns that Democratic Governor Jay Nixon wouldn't sign it, arguing federal law supersedes state law. Missouri voters are the first to decide the measure, going to the ballot box August 3.

Other states with similar referenda set for a November vote include Arizona and Florida.


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