Virginia to Obama: We Don't Want Health Reform

In case Scott Brown's win in Massachusetts didn't send a strong enough message about views of health reform outside the Beltway, Virginia's state senate decided to turn up the volume.

Pushing back against their own party in Washington, some Democratic state senators in Virginia joined Republicans Monday to pass a bill that would make it illegal to require folks in the Commonwealth to purchase health insurance. This, of course, is aimed at an important measure in congressional Democrats' health reform plan: Everyone must buy health coverage to spread the cost of insurance over a larger population. Without the individual mandate, insurance practices such as denying coverage for preexisting conditions will continue.

As I noted yesterday, this is symbolic act to show President Obama and Democrats in Washington that health reform is not wanted. Federal laws supersede state laws, after all. The Virginia measure goes to the Republican-controlled House.

But the politicians aren't really looking to actually change laws in a meaningful way. If a Republican can win a Senate seat in Massachusetts, every Democrat is vulnerable. The current mood is reminiscent of the town-hall meetings last summer. And what's even more striking: Obama carried Virginia in 2008, and Democrats actually control the state senate.