NASHVILLE -- U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said today that he will continue to fight against federal health care reform if elected governor.
If reform is passed by Congress, he'll also work with the General Assembly in Tennessee and governors in other states to block its enactment, he said.
The Chattanooga congressman cited the U.S. Constitution's 10th amendment and his "fundamental belief in state sovereignty" in fighting the reforms both in Congress and the state level.
"I will fight any mandate forced on us by the federal government that hurts our state's economy and costs us more jobs, and the Pelosi health care bill will cost us thousands of jobs and threatens to bankrupt our state," U.S. Rep. Wamp said in a news release.
"State sovereignty gives us the right as Tennesseans to say no to Washington, and I will defend it with every ounce of my being."
In the Tennessee Senate, which is led by Wamp gubernatorial rival Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountsville, senators recently voted 26-1 to compel the state attorney general's office to launch legal challenges against any would-be federal legislation that requires individuals to buy health insurance, a major feature of the federal reform legislation.
Rep. Wamp said if elected governor he will work with state lawmakers to "block this crippling mandate if it's forced upon the states."
In Washington, U.S. House Democratic leaders are trying to rally enough Democrats to pass the legislation.