Virginia's Democratic-controlled state Senate passed measures that would make it illegal to require individuals to purchase health insurance, the Washington Post reports. The bills were approved 23 to 17 as five Democrats who represent swing areas of the state joined all 18 Republicans in the chamber in backing the legislation. The votes came less than a week after President Obama implored Democrats in Washington not to abandon their healthcare efforts, urging them in his State of the Union address not to "run for the hills" on the issue, the Post reports.
