WASHINGTON, D.C., December 20, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – More American voters than ever believe that Congress will manage to repeal the federal health care reform law, according to a Rasmussen Reports survey.
Asked, “How likely is it that the Health Care bill will be repealed?” 52 pecent of likely U.S. voters responded that it was at least somewhat likely, while 33 percent said it was unlikely. Three times as many believed it was very likely as those who strongly disagreed, 16 percent to 5 percent.
The new majority, up from 47 percent in November, emerged after a federal judge in Virginia ruled a week ago that the insurance mandate embedded in the bill was beyond the reach of Congress’ constitutional powers. The mandate is considered an essential part of the law, necessary to provide the funds needed for the planned health insurance overhaul.
More than two dozen lawsuits are pending against the federal health care law. The Virginia ruling, sought by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli against the federal government, was the first ruling out of three handed down so far to call the law unconstitutional.
Personal opinion concerning the repeal is dividing Americans more strongly, according to the survey. Of 55 percent favoring repeal, 40 percent of voters “strongly favor” it; meanwhile, 41 percent oppose repeal, with 31 percent strongly opposed. At least 50 percent of voters have supported repeal in each survey taken since the health care bill was signed into law in March.
Meanwhile, steam is gathering behind an amendment effort popular among conservative leaders that would make it possible for states to repeal federal law if the legislatures in two-thirds of U.S. states voted in favor.
Debate over the question of the balance of federal and state power has been fueled by the passage of the health care law.
Randy E. Barnett, a Georgetown law professor and co-author of the amendment, told the New York Times that the amendment had a better shot at ratification than most.
“This is something state legislatures have an interest in pursuing, because it helps them fend off federal encroachment and gives them a seat at the table when Congress is proposing what to do,” said Barnett, who first proposed the amendment last year. The language has already been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by states rights advocate Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah).
The amendment would require approval from both chambers of Congress and 38 state legislatures to succeed. Virginia’s Cuccinelli has written to the attorneys general of every state asking for support for the amendment, and Marianne Moran, the attorney behind RepealAmendment.org, told the NYT that legislative leaders in twelve states have already jumped on board.
“No amendment has ever been ratified without a broad national consensus — it’s an uphill battle — but we’ve done it 27 times as a country, and I think we can get enough states to agree,” she told the newspaper.