Why do the media diminish the strength of state sovereignty by stating that federal law usually trumps state law?
For well over 100 years, case law and legal battles have contained conflicts between federal laws and state laws. States have frequently questioned the legitimacy of federal statutes in many different areas… this is nothing new. Depending on the issue and the way the federal statutes have been challenged, sometimes the Courts have ruled in favor of the federal law (Supremacy Clause, federal pre-emption, interstate commerce). But there are many examples of federal courts ruling in favor of the States. Being that the HCFA begs a question that has never before been presented to the Courts (whether or not the federal government can force a citizen of a state to purchase a product, health insurance), it is perfectly sensible to argue that Obamacare will be ruled upon as unconstitutional by the Courts. The HCFA will force that question.
