Arkansas Lawmakers Propose Banning Health Insurance Mandate

Legislation filed by a pair of Republican lawmakers in Arkansas proposes blocking a portion of the health care overhaul that requires people to buy health insurance.

Rep.-elect David Meeks and Sen. Denny Altes propose prohibiting any laws or rules that would require someone to purchase health insurance and would penalize people who don’t buy insurance. Meeks is from Conway and Altes will be a state representative from Fort Smith in next year’s session.

The federal health care law requires most Americans to carry health insurance — through an employer, a government program, or by buying their own policy. The federal health care insurance mandate does not take effect until 2014.

The requirement has been criticized by many Republicans, who have questioned its constitutionality.