States Look to Forestall Hypothetical Mandate

New York Times ^ | February 6, 2010 | Katharine Q. Seeleye

[reaganaut1]

Health care legislation in Washington may be stalled, but that has not stopped legislatures in more than two-thirds of the states from objecting to one of its central planks: a requirement that everyone buy health insurance.

The objections, many of them driven by the Tea Party movement, may turn out to be largely symbolic. But they nonetheless serve notice to President Obama and the Democrats of real anger over their health care plans and signal the potential for political upheaval down the road.

These measures, which are in various stages of ripening in about 36 states, could also pave the way for a major court challenge.

Virginia last week became the latest to set about blocking any effort to force its residents to buy health insurance or pay a penalty if they do not. Approved by the State Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, the measure goes this week to the House of Delegates, which is controlled by Republicans, and is all but certain to pass and be signed into law.

The state would become the first in the country to enact a statute to oppose a basic building block of the Democrats’ health care plan. (Most other states are considering constitutional amendments.)

The twist in Virginia is that Democratic legislators joined with Republicans to move the measure along. In two other states, Iowa and West Virginia, Democratic state legislators have also joined Republicans in similar efforts.

The movement against the so-called individual mandate began slowly in 2006, after Massachusetts passed a health care law that included the requirement. It picked up steam last summer as anger at the Democratic health care proposals boiled over in town-hall-style meetings across the country.

And it took on new urgency after Jan. 19 [when Scott Brown was elected to the Senate in Massachusetts.]

[EdReform]

BTTT

[SunkenCiv]

Health care legislation in Washington may be stalled, but that has not stopped legislatures in more than two-thirds of the states from objecting to one of its central planks: a requirement that everyone buy health insurance.

Thanks reaganaut1.

[VRWC For Truth]

The Era of Big Government Republicanism Is Over

[hinckley buzzard]

I have a feeling that the "individual mandate" would be a suicide pill for any state legislator who did not oppose it to the best of his ability.

[ForGod'sSake]

Thanks EdReform. Good article but I didn’t find much new ground being tilled. Adding it to the “10thamendment” keyword list so it will be searchable for those who may be wanting to backtrack.