WBRZ - Baton Rouge

A proposal seeking to reject the federal health care overhaul in Louisiana has narrowly escaped a Senate committee and will be debated by the full Senate.

Passage by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday only came after the bill was amended to ensure it amounts to little more than a statement of policy.

Language added to the measures explains that nothing in it should be construed to supersede
federal law.

The committee advanced the bill by Republican Rep. Kirk Talbot to the Senate floor with a 5-4 vote.

The chair of the committee, Democratic Sen. Willie Mount, broke the tie to advance the bill.

The measure declares that no one in Louisiana can be required to have health insurance or be required to pay a penalty if they refuse to carry insurance.