Medical Reform Nullification Bill Revived

Lawmakers are advancing a revived push to nullify the federal health care overhaul in Idaho. The House State Affairs Committee voted along party lines Monday to send the measure, led by Republican Represenative Vito Barbieri of Coeur d'Alene, to the full House. A previous bid to stymie the health care law this session failed in the Senate. The attorney general's office advised lawmakers that approving such a law would violate the U.S. and Idaho constitutions, as well as their oath of office. The new legislation focuses on blocking "discretionary provisions" in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - those portions of the federal law not specifically required or which don't take effect before June 30th, 2012. Barbieri hopes to convince GOP colleagues that this new measure is constitutional.