The proposed Senate Joint Resolution K, a constitutional amendment, must be approved by both the Senate and House with two-thirds of the members in each chamber voting yes. However, with all 22 Republicans voting yes, and a near unanimous Democrat caucus opposed, the resolution fell two votes short of passage.

"I am extremely disappointed that partisanship has come in the way of doing the right thing. The ability to provide for your own health care and make your own health care decisions is important and should be preserved," said Kuipers, R-Holland. "The Wall Street Journal called the federal health care takeover `the worst bill ever written,' and for good reason. I introduced this resolution to ensure personal health care choice where decisions are made by the patient and his or her doctor - not by bureaucrats in Washington D.C."

SJR K would put on the ballot a state constitutional amendment saying that no federal law shall compel any person, employer or health care provider to participate in any public or private health care system. The resolution also says that the purchase or sale of health insurance or coverage in private health care systems shall not be prohibited by federal law or rule.

"Congress is attempting to ram down our throats a government-run health care system that will dramatically raise costs, including an estimated $700 million increase to Michigan taxpayers," Kuipers said. "A government takeover of health care is wrong. We should be increasing access to insurance by reducing costs - not adopting a system that will result in long waiting lists, higher costs and tax increases."

The Kuipers press release mentions similar resolutions are being considered by 38 other states.  Also, he offers those who support freedom of choice in health care an opportunity to say so by signing an online petition on Kuipers' Web page at www.senatorwaynekuipers.com.