Kansas House considers plan to avoid federal health law

The state House is preparing to debate whether Kansas should join a compact of states seeking to exempt themselves from the federal health care law.

The bill on Thursday's agenda in the House would also let participating states remove themselves from other federal health regulations if Congress consents.

Many Republican lawmakers strongly oppose the federal health care law championed by President Barack Obama and see it as intrusive and burdensome.

GOP opposition kept Kansas from setting up its own online health insurance marketplace under the federal law.

Critics call the measure symbolic and say Congress wouldn't approve such a compact.

A Texas-based group is pushing the compact and says eight other states have enacted similar laws, including Missouri.

This story was originally published March 20, 2014 at 8:35 AM with the headline "Kansas House considers plan to avoid federal health law."