Posted on 03/24/2010 3:16:20 PM PDT by CitizenM
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell (R) signed Virginia’s opposition to the Democratically led federal health care reform bill Wednesday afternoon.
The governor put his signature on the Virginia Health Care Freedom Act at a ceremony in Richmond. State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, State Senators Steve Martin, Fred Quayle, Jill Vogel, Delegate Bob Marshall, and Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel all took part in the event.
“We all agree that we must expand access to quality health care and reduce costs for all Virginians. However, that should not be accomplished through an unprecedented federal mandate on individuals that we believe violates the U.S. Constitution. The Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act sets as the policy of the Commonwealth that no individual, with several specific exceptions, can be required to purchase health insurance coverage. The Act was passed with bipartisan support, in sharp contrast to the narrow straight line partisan vote that enacted the federal health care bill on Sunday night. Virginia’s Healthcare Freedom Act received the votes of leading Democratic Senators, as well as the Democratic House Minority Leader. It was an important step to sign this bipartisan legislation today,” McDonnell said in a news release.
“The states have long been leaders in identifying and implementing innovative policies to expand access to, and improve the affordability of, healthcare coverage. Virginia will continue to play that important role. We will do this through promoting incentives for the purchase of long term care and individual medical savings accounts, focusing on preventative health and combating obesity, studying our medical delivery systems with the objective of reforming them to work better for our citizens, expanding free clinics and aggressively finding new ways to reduce the cost of our Medicaid system, which has already grown 1600% in the past 25 years. There are fiscally responsible ways by which we can reform healthcare and expand quality coverage that do not involve the forcing of unfunded and unprecedented mandates onto individuals and states, and the unsustainable growing of our national debt,” the Governor added.
Cuccinelli said, “Virginians spoke loudly and clearly in rallies, in town halls, and at the ballot box about their opposition to the new federal health care law. The governor and both Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly heard them, and as a result, the Virginia Health Care Freedom Act is being signed today.”
I think that’s EXACTLY where it’s headed: a brutal confrontation between states and the Feds. The reason? The states CANNOT AFFORD to take this bill and implement it. They simply don’t have the funds and won’t have them. It will bankrupt them and their citizens - and well they know it. If they don’t want to be a broken, liberal cesspool mired in financial ruin, they MUST stop it any way they can! They have no choice - which is a great position for those who want this thing killed, because it means states are more likely to stand on states’ rights than fold. If they fold, they go financially insolvent. Money can be a great motivator.
I hope it won’t create a problem that he signed the bill into state law a day after the federal law went into effect and a day after the state filed a suit claming the federal law conflicted with our state law?
The BEST part of this is that they are apparently going to IGNORE the law, not just say “you can’t make us buy insurance” because the latter would still result in bankrupting the private insurance companies - if the rest of Deathcare was implemented. This is GREAT NEWS and I’m betting VA is just leading the way — and will not be the lone state doing this. There is strength in numbers and now we can see why conservative governors have been meeting together for a while, and why AGs have been talking to each other a good bit. I’m thinking strategy is being formed. I don’t think they’re betting on a court success, but taking steps to ensure their freedom regardless!!
Rebellion is rebellion. If the states are saying they won’t, makes no diff what the courts say if they are willing to stand on it. Civil disobedience (or state sovereignty if you prefer!)
Thanks Civ! The State blowback seems to be growing.
I see the two points you raise and agree they are interesting, but I guess I would counter by saying that the “average Joe” should jealously protect his own liberty against encroachment by any party - including the Federal government - by any nonviolent means necessary.
Your second concern (”The intense amount of legal activity will cause millions to be spent on attorneys that could have been spent actually providing healthcare”) is not germane since this law/bill was never about healthcare. It has been about expanding the power of the National State and making the People dependent on the Government.
Glad to hear Florida is standing up the Federal government. The Pennsylvania house has introduced a similar bill recently as well. I desperately hope that the States are able to stand up to this encroachment on our liberty. The upcoming Republican landslide in the midterms will certainly help slow things down, but the reality is, the Federal government will not give up power on its own - it will need to be nudged by the people and the States.
why not FL?
FL has some of the most right wing laws in this country and has been one of the first to fight this
my thoughts too, FL has been one of the first to fight this, we have one of the most conservative and best gun lass in this country so I am really puzzled as to why anyone would think FL would not fight this
you go off a poll, surely you jest.
FL has been at the front fighting this
This is awesome. Wow. A Republican who walks the walk.
Let’s hope more follow.
Start thinking in terms of the reality: You are free today! The federal government will not stop. It is like a terminator it will keep coming and coming until you are a subject. You may no longer have the right to speak out if you let this usurpation go unchallenged. Act now or forever hold your peace! Secession!
I think FL before WA State!
“Charlie Crist frets from his tanning bed on taxes on tanning bed treatments.”
LOL!
What a mess the Democrats have created. I think I need to go to law school, as the lawyers will be tied up with this for decades.
What a waste of resources and effort.
++++++++++++++
Mebbe that’s a side bennie - throwing a bone to the RAT lawyers (which are most lawyers.)
well put.
I hope he does become GOV, we also get Rubio and for some strange reason the elderly yankees down in the south east part will still vote for their idiot , even after this.
makes sense doesn’t it, move to another state and make it look like the crap you left
NOT
I love this state especially where I live and the laws are some of the best in the country, hopefully the elections go good for us and I gave a call to our AG to say thank you so much on behalf of my family
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