House passes Florida health care amendment

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A ballot proposal that would ban Floridians from being forced to participate in health care programs has passed in the Republican-controlled House in a partisan vote.

The proposed state constitutional amendment (HJR 37, SJR 72) also was set for a Senate vote later Thursday.

It's a response to the federal health care overhaul, but legal experts say a mandatory insurance provision in that law would override the state amendment due to U.S. Constitution's "supremacy clause."

The House sponsor, Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, acknowledged that likelihood.

But he said it's still needed to prevent future Florida lawmakers from passing such a requirement on the state level if the federal law is declared unconstitutional.