ND Senate endorses protest of federal health law

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota lawmakers are about to approve a bill that questions the recent federal health care overhaul.

House and Senate negotiators have finished working on the bill's final language. The Senate approved it Tuesday and the North Dakota House is expected to endorse the bill later.

It says the federal health care law is likely to violate the U.S. Constitution. It says the North Dakota Legislature should consider ways to block it. And it says the federal law can't be used to “interfere” with the medical and insurance choices of North Dakotans.

Northwood Sen. Gerald Uglem (UGH’-lum) says the bill is pointless, because the state can't block federal law. Bismarck Sen. Margaret Sitte (SIT’-ee) says the federal law goes too far, and states should push back.

The bill is SB2309.

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