States Are Starting to Defy Obamacare Mandates

Virginia, a state which went for Obama in 2008 before swiftly regaining their sanity and electing a Republican governor in 2009, is choosing to defy the individual mandates in the Obamacare bill:

Virginia’s Democratic-controlled state Senate passed measures Monday that would make it illegal to require individuals to purchase health insurance, a direct challenge to the party’s efforts in Washington to reform health care.

The bills, a top priority of Virginia’s “tea party” movement, were approved 23 to 17 as five Democrats who represent swing areas of the state joined all 18 Republicans in the chamber in backing the legislation.

The votes came less than a week after President Obama implored Democrats in Washington not to abandon their health-care efforts, urging them in his State of the Union address not to “run for the hills” on the issue.

But the action in Virginia, a state that backed Obama in 2008, could indicate that the president is failing to reassure members of his own party that current reform efforts remain worthwhile. The votes also suggest that Democrats on the state level fear that supporting health-care reform could be politically damaging, and their action could put pressure on members of the state’s congressional delegation who have been behind the effort.

“It doesn’t make it easier,” said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, who voted for health-care legislation and is one of several Virginia Democrats facing a strong challenge this year.

Each of three similar bills that passed the state Senate on Monday would run counter to legislation passed by both chambers of Congress, which would require all individuals to purchase health care.

The bills were also expected to be approved by the GOP-controlled House of Delegates. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) said he will review the bills but supports their intent.

“I think the General Assembly is doing what they believe is right for the citizens of Virginia,” McDonnell told reporters Monday. “And, like them, I oppose these broad, costly federal mandates that undermine the ability of Virginians to create more access at less cost.”

Measures prompted by the Washington debate are pending in at least 29 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Should Obamacare pass this could set up an interesting 10th Amendment Supreme Court battle as states attempt to reclaim some of the rights they're supposed to have according to the Constitution. At some point the Federal government has got to be stopped and prevented from further eroding the rights of the states to self-governance.