Photo by ep_jhu

Good morning, Washington. I’m no lawyer, but I have to guess that this country’s system of government doesn’t really allow states to simply opt out of whatever federal legislation they don’t feel like complying with. Virginia has become the first state to see its legislature pass a bill that would ban the federal health insurance mandate in the commonwealth, and Gov. Bob McDonnell has naturally pledged to sign it. Casting aside the fact that Congress still hasn’t managed to take a final vote on health-care reform, individual mandate or not, this move by Virginia seems unlikely to hold up over the long term, and will instead merely force an endless series of expensive lawsuits. Any constitutional scholars out there in the commentariat care to weigh in on this one?

Fenty OK’s Two Smoking Exemptions: It’s official, both the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner and Fight Night will be allowed to offer guests the chance to smoke cigars indoors, now that Mayor Fenty has signed off on the bill, as the Post reports. Fenty, who had been a vocal proponent of the city’s smoking ban, is taking just a small amount of heat for going along with the proposal, which was spearheaded by his close ally, Jack Evans (D-Ward 2).

EMS Crew Disciplined Over Failure to Take Woman to Hospital: The EMS crew involved in the Kimberly Kelsey case has been disciplined for failing to take Kelsey to the hospital after she called 911 complaining of having trouble breathing on December 22, WUSA9’s Dave Statter reports. No word exactly what punishment the crew received, but Statter also reports that just like in the case of the toddler who died last month, no patient care report was filled out on the initial response.

Briefly Noted: Capitol Hill’s Tyler Elementary School field has become a battleground between dog owners and youth athletic groups … Total marriage license applications in the first week that same-sex couples could apply: 466. A normal week? Maybe 50. … Alexandria man’s death in Va. hospital being investigated as homicide … Prince George’s police officer, 27, dies after car crash

This Day in DCist: In 2009, the Dorchester Market was forced to close, and in 2008, a couple of Hollywood movies were being filmed around town.