Virginia Republicans try to thwart federal gun, health-care bills

The Washington Post reports:

Emboldened by their November sweep, Virginia Republicans are hoping to use their new power in Richmond to press their opposition to President Obama and Democratic policies in Washington.

As the General Assembly prepares to convene Wednesday, Republicans have introduced a series of bills designed to counter federal policy. The state's new Republican attorney general says he is assembling a legal team with an eye to challenging the federal government in court. And Virginia's newly elected Republican governor said he plans to engage actively in a national conversation about limiting Washington's power.

"I think the federal government is out of control," said House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford). "There's genuine concern, not just from Republicans, but from people who are just concerned citizens. . . . And I believe the message is clear: We better be paying attention."

One bill lawmakers will consider is a measure to make it illegal to require people to buy health insurance, which is designed to invalidate congressional efforts to mandate insurance coverage.

Another would declare that the federal government has no right to regulate as interstate commerce any good or service produced or performed entirely within Virginia. A third would specify that Washington can't regulate guns that are made and sold in the state.

The anti-centralization movement.