Va. health bill could foil Obama proposal

Va. health bill could foil Obama proposal

RICHMOND - Here in the former capital of the Old Confederacy, where resistance to the supremacy of federal law has a long and tortuous history, a new battle is being waged over a question that could undercut a key part of President Obama's health care proposal: whether Washington can require that most Americans have health insurance. The Virginia Legislature this week is poised to become the first state to pass legislation that says citizens cannot be required to have medical insurance. Dozens of other states are considering similar measures, possibly setting the stage for one of the greatest tests of federal power over the states since the civil rights era. If states are allowed to opt out of the mandate, the foundation of Obama's effort would be undermined, turning the nascent revolt here into one with national implications. The debate goes far beyond a disagreement with the approach to health care coverage taken in Massachusetts. Rather, Virginia's lawmakers are focused on constitutional questions and the power of states to run their own affairs. Continue to the complete story at "Boston.com":http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/03/08/va_health_bill_could_foil_obama_proposal/