The filing of the U.S. Justice Department’s response in a suit over the constitutionality of the federal health care reform law will no doubt serve as a guide for how Democrats will fight to preserve the law.

The U.S. Justice Department, in its first defense of sweeping federal health care reform, argues in court papers that the legislation is constitutional, in part because it addresses a national problem.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate’s health care reform proposal late tonight (March 21), giving its approval to a landmark piece of legislation that largely targets health insurance companies and the way they do business.

In a plan the White House says “bridges the gap” between House and Senate health reform bills, President Barack Obama laid out a comprehensive proposal he feels will make coverage more affordable and accessible, while calling for greater accountability by stakeholders in the market.

Virginia’s House of Delegates has given preliminary approval to a bill that would block any forthcoming federal mandate for individuals to purchase private health insurance.

With the struggle to pass comprehensive health reform legislation meeting the approval of both the House and Senate ongoing, one group is warning against smaller, piecemeal reform measures it says are on “the wish list of the insurance and medical industries.”

The chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia applauded the members of his party – and five Democrats – in the state Senate who voted to advance bills rejecting what he calls the “health care nightmare” currently in negotiations in Washington, D.C.

As Congress debates a final comprehensive health care bill for the nation, one Virginia delegate is proposing that state residents, and possibly others nationwide, not be held to any coverage mandates.

Joining several states across the nation, Republicans in the Pennsylvania House held a rally Jan. 27 to introduce a pair of bills aimed at opposing possible federal health mandates.

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.