Topeka ? U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., who is running for governor, announced that he wants the Kansas Legislature to pass a measure seeking to block federal health care reform.

“It is important the state of Kansas protects its citizens from the federal government’s abuse of its constitutional authority,” Brownback said.

On Sunday, Congress approved sweeping health care reform that is opposed by Republicans.

Today, the Kansas House is scheduled to debate House Concurrent Resolution 5032. It is a proposed state constitutional amendment that would prohibit the federal government from requiring that Kansans purchase health insurance.

Critics say the amendment is meaningless because any legal challenge to the federal law will be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court which will consider the U.S. Constitution, regardless of any state constitutional provisions.

But Brownback said the state constitutional amendment is necessary. “If approved by Kansas voters, a constitutional amendment establishes a foundation for legal challenges to any health care mandate passed by Congress and signed into law by the President,” he said.

In a news release, Brownback said he added his name to a list of Kansans calling on the Kansas Legislature to approve the proposed constitutional amendment for a statewide vote in November.

Groups supporting the amendment include the Kansas Chamber, Americans for Prosperity, the Kansas Sovereignty Coalition and Political Chips, which describes itself as “Your Kansas Tea Party Connection.”