Not Dead Yet

(Editor’s note: Most of this post originally appeared as an e-mail alert from the John Locke Foundation on Feb. 7, 2011.)

As reported in MichCapCon last Saturday, actions by Michigan state agencies to implement various Obamacare provisions now violate the binding judgment of a federal judge, who ruled the entire 2,700-page bill, officially titled the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," "must be declared void," because its key "individual mandate" provision violates the Constitution. The law is not dead yet, but that wasn't the only good news last week for those who think it should be. Here's a summary:

Courts: Federal Judge Roger Vinson went further than any other judge to date and issued a ruling against the entire bill, which should mean the feds can't advance their plans in a number of areas.

States: In North Carolina, the House passed a bill to protect health care freedom. It will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. This bill is just the first salvo against federal encroachment. Appropriations subcommittees meet tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., and you'll be able to listen online to HHS in Room 643. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, based on Judge Vinson's decision, has stopped implementing Obamacare. Scott joined Mitch Daniels and 19 other governors to seek more flexibility in health care and Medicaid.

Congress: Thirty-four Democrats and all 47 Republicans joined together in the Senate to end the oppressive rule that forced businesses to file an IRS Form 1099 for any supplier to whom they pay more than $600 in a year.

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