
By Jonathan Wilson
Virginia's general assembly is the first in the nation to approve legislation that bucks federal health care reforms by banning federal health insurance mandates.
Without debate, the House of Delegates voted 80-17 for a bill banning federal mandates for health insurance coverage. Delegate Bob Marshall, a Republican from Prince William County, is the bill's main sponsor.
Thirty-four other state legislatures have filed or proposed similar measures rejecting health insurance mandates. But Virginia's legislature, scheduled to adjourn Saturday, is the first to finish work on a bill. The measure goes to Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, who plans to sign it.
The measures are advancing nationally as Republicans try to capitalize on some voter discontent over Democratic-backed federal health care reform efforts in Congress.

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