Gibbs dismisses Missouri vote against federal health insurance mandate

Gibbs said Missouri’s vote approving a ballot initiative
to exempt residents from the new law requiring individuals to buy health
insurance was “of no legal significance.”

Asked what it means that voters in Missouri would vote
against the federal mandate, Gibbs said: “Nothing.”

Gibbs is correct that the Missouri vote doesn’t trump
federal law, but it has given a boost to those calling on Congress to repeal
the healthcare law.

Republicans spent much of Wednesday trumpeting the vote as a
victory that sent a message of voter disapproval to the White House.

A number of states including Virginia are suing the federal
government over the new law. They question the constitutionality of imposing a
mandate that individuals buy insurance.