A committee of Louisiana lawmakers has advanced a bill to the full House that seeks to stop federal health care reform from taking effect in the state. The proposed constitutional amendment states that "no law or rule shall compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system." "We think the people ought to decide if this is how they want to be governed," Louisiana Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine told the committee. "Basically the state is asserting it's sovereignty." The governor's office says the federal government is treading on state's rights.