The full Virginia Senate will now debate whether state residents will be held to possible federal mandates on health insurance after a series of bills passed the chamber’s commerce and labor committee.

On Jan. 25, by an 8-to-7 vote, the committee passed three similar bills, all rejecting any possible mandate on individuals to secure health insurance. Such a mandate could come as a result of ongoing negotiations in the U.S. House and Senate to combine their respective bills into one comprehensive health reform measure for the president’s signature.

Frederick M. Quayle

The Virginia bills were sponsored by three Republican members of the committee – Stephen H. Martin (SB 311), Frederick M. Quayle (SB 283) and Jill Holtzman Vogel (SB 417) – and featured similar language banning any federal mandates for coverage, as well as exempting state residents from any “penalty, assessment, fee or fine” as a result of failing to secure insurance.

Similar bills are being proposed in the Virginia House of Delegates, including the  Virginia Health Care Freedom Act (HB 10), filed by Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-13th District).

Discussion among the committee largely centered on whether the state should pass such measures before Congress has decided on its final bill and whether the federal government can require individuals to buy an item or service, according to the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star.

Numerous states’ attorneys general are also weighing in on that matter, debating the constitutionality of such mandates.

Quayle told the Free Lance-Star that Virginia should state clearly that “to require what is contemplated being required is not constitutional and would not be permitted in the commonwealth of Virginia.”

The 8-7 votes were the same for each bill, with the same seven Democrats voting in opposition to the measures: Committee chairman Richard L. Saslaw (35th District); Yvonne B. Miller (35th District); John S. Edwards (21st District); Linda T. Puller (36th District); Mark R. Herring (33rd District); A. Donald McEachin (9th District); and R. Creigh Deeds (25th District).

The eight senators in support of all three bills included two Democrats – Charles J. Colgan (29th District) and Phillip P. Puckett (38th District) – and the committee’s six Republican members: William C. Wampler Jr. (40th District); Thomas K. Norment ( 3rd District); Walter A. Stosch (12th District); John C. Watkins (10th District); Frank W. Wagner (7th District); and Stephen D. Newman (23rd District).