JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Missouri voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a key provision of President Barack Obamas health care law, sending a clear message of discontent to Washington and Democrats less than 100 days before the midterm elections.
With about 70 percent of the vote counted late Tuesday, nearly three-quarters of voters had supported the measure prohibiting the government from requiring people to have health insurance or from penalizing them from paying for their own health care.
That would conflict with a federal requirement that most people have health insurance or face penalties starting in 2014.
Tuesdays vote approving the ballot measure, known as Proposition C, was seen as largely symbolic because federal law generally trumps state law. But it was also seen as a sign of growing voter disillusionment with federal policies and a show of strength by conservatives and the tea party movement.
Legislatures in Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana and Virginia have passed similar statutes, and voters in Arizona and Oklahoma will vote on such measures as state constitutional amendments in November. But Missouri was the first state to challenge aspects of the law in a referendum.
Federal courts are expected to weigh in well before the insurance provision takes effect about whether the federal health care overhaul is constitutional.
In other primary news:
Michigan: Political newcomer Rick Snyder dispatched Michigans attorney general, a longtime congressman and two others Tuesday to win the Republican nomination in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero grabbed the Democratic nod. Seven-term Michigan Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was struggling in her re-election bid. State Sen. Hansen Clarke led Kilpatrick, 49 percent to 38 percent with 48 percent of precincts reporting.
Kansas: Two-term Sen. Sam Brownback sailed to the GOP nomination in Kansas gubernatorial race. Two other longtime politicians GOP Reps. Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt were locked in a close race for the partys Senate nomination.
Missouri: Democrat Robin Carnahan, the daughter of a former governor and a former senator, and seven-term GOP Rep. Roy Blunt secured spots on the November ballot in that states Senate race.
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