> "only to residents who've lived here longer than x" would raise equal protection constitutional issues
States seem to apply residency consideration all the time to college tuition and taxes, among others. Why would equal protection be an issue here?
Austin, TX can't implement this on its own without state support, but cities don't have any federal constitutional rights apart from their containing states, so that's too bad
> States seem to apply residency consideration all the time to college tuition and taxes, among others. Why would equal protection be an issue here?
Because you're either going to have to pick some fairly short period of time - a year or less - which won't be that much of an obstacle to folks seeking healthcare (especially if private healthcare remains available in that interim period), or you'll run afoul of Zobel v. Williams if you try to make a permanent or long-lived distinction.
You structure it as paying into a plan. For each year lived in the state you get 20% coverage (upto 5 years) which would smooth out the cost and provide fairness to poorer local residents.
States seem to apply residency consideration all the time to college tuition and taxes, among others. Why would equal protection be an issue here?
Austin, TX can't implement this on its own without state support, but cities don't have any federal constitutional rights apart from their containing states, so that's too bad