Topeka ? A proposed state constitutional amendment that sought to block federal health care reform has failed in the House.

The measure received a 75-47 majority Tuesday but fell short of the two-thirds majrity – 84 votes – necessary in the 125-member House to put a constitutional amendment before voters.

The House debated the issue on Monday, one day after a sweeping health insurance overhaul pushed by President Barack Obama was approved by Congress.

The debate in the Kansas House repeated many of the arguments heard over the past year.

Republicans said the federal plan was an unconstitutional takeover of health care, would reduce the quality of medicine and break the budget.

The reforms “will take us down the path of socialism,” said state Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita.

But Democrats criticized the proposed state constitutional amendment, saying that federal health reform will be decided on U.S. constitutional issues regardless of what states approve.

The amendment would have prohibited the federal government from requiring that Kansans purchase health insurance.