Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, told the House State Affairs Committee this morning, “The federal health care laws recently passed by the U.S. Congress have invaded the traditional sovereign powers of the state. This bill declares that this intrusion by the federal government is … null and void.” Committee members had lots of questions for Barbieri. “Are you … aware that no court in the history of the United States has ever upheld a state effort to nullify a federal law?” Rep. Elfreda Higgins, D-Garden City, asked Barbieri. He responded, “I do believe no federal court has done that. The difficulty is that the federal courts are an arm of the federal government, so it would be very difficult to imagine an arm of the federal government ruling against itself”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

• Party line vote in House State Affairs panel introduces 'nullification' bill
• House committee member questions gift of 'nullification' book

Question: What do you make of freshman legislator Vito Barbieri proposing a state law that cannot pass constitutional muster?