Mo. to vote, again, on part of Obama health law

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Part of President Barack Obama's health care law goes before Missouri voters on Nov. 6. A ballot measure would prohibit the governor from creating an online shopping site known as a health insurance exchange.

No matter whether Proposition E passes or fails, federal law still requires an insurance exchange in every state by 2014. States can choose to set up their own, work with the federal government, or let federal officials handle the whole thing themselves.

So the only issue before Missouri voters is whether the governor's administration can establish a state-run insurance exchange, or whether that authority must come from state law. Even then, the measure may be symbolic. Both Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and Republican challenger Dave Spence say they have no plans to establish a state-run exchange.