HB 298, the bill that's being referred to as the “grandson of nullification,” has passed the Senate State Affairs Committee on a rather unenthusiastic, divided voice vote. Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens; Wayne Hoffman, executive director of the Idaho Freedom Foundation; and a citizen who spoke of the virtues of nullification were among those calling for passage of the bill, which would forbid Idaho from accepting federal money to implement health care reform and would put a one-year hold on any actions by the state to comply with discretionary portions of the law, along with other measures/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: How does Vito Barbieri and allies justify an unconstitutional attempt to nullify federal law that will cost Idaho money in court with their tight-fisted votes on public education and Medicaid budget votes?