State Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee, in foreground, on Tuesday spoke at a hearing on her proposed constitutional amendment that she said was needed to prevent the federal government from requiring that Kansans purchase health insurance.

State Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, (standing), spoke on Tuesday in opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment that asserts that the federal government cannot require Kansans to have health insurance. From left to right (seated) are state Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, and state Sens. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, and Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka.

Topeka ? Opponents of federal programs on Tuesday pushed for an amendment to the state constitution that they said would prevent the federal government from forcing Kansans to have health insurance.

About 10 people testified in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1626, saying Democratic health reform pending in Congress was unconstitutional because it would require that Kansans have health coverage.

Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee, described her amendment as “calling on the Kansas state legislators to protect the freedom of Kansas citizens when it comes to their freedom in choosing their health care as they see fit.”

Several of the proposed amendment’s supporters criticized President Barack Obama, Medicare and illegal immigration.

Paul Degener of rural Shawnee County said, “Our federal government is our own worst enemy. It continues to grow and gets more dictatorial.” Degener said he was on Medicare, but didn’t like it. He said people should be allowed to deal directly with their doctor even if that meant paying with chickens.

The Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity also supports the proposed constitutional amendment.

But Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, spoke against the measure. He said congressional health reforms under consideration “will provide more Kansans with access to care and a means to pay for that care.” There are currently an estimated 300,000 Kansans without health care coverage.

And Dr. Ira Stamm, a Topeka psychologist, said a requirement that everyone have insurance was needed “for Americans to have the lowest possible insurance premiums.”

The hearing was held before a joint meeting of the House and Senate health committees. No action was taken. If approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate, the measure would be put before Kansas voters in November.