Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen's promised move to amend, delay or repeal outright the compulsory insurance law, due to take effect Feb. 13, met with a resounding thud from most quarters Tuesday as she tried to brave it through a special session of the Senate called to address another matter.
Hansen had been open in her disapproval of the law, stating that it hurts "the people." She said "rich" people wouldn't be affected, nor government officials such as herself. "It's the people," she said, demanding that a special session of the Legislature meet to study the issue.
She sought to tack an insurance amendment onto the bill before the Senate allocating funding for the Labor Department to operate the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration program. Senate president Vargrave Richards ruled the amendment non-germane and told Hansen she was out of order. Senate legal counsel Constance Krigger, however, said the motion was in order.
A vote was then taken on whether to call a special session of the Legislature to consider Hansen's proposal. It was defeated 10-2, with Hansen and Sen. Adelbert "Bert" Bryan in favor. Sens. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Judy Gomez and David Jones were absent.
