Ga. tea party groups protest healthcare OK

ATLANTA - A few dozen tea party activists gathered at Georgia's Capitol to protest approval by the U.S. House of a sweeping healthcare overhaul.

They urged Georgia legislators to adopt a measure seeking to prevent the federal government from mandating the purchase of health insurance. A constitutional amendment that seeks to do just that was up for a vote in the Georgia House on Monday.

A similar constitutional amendment which requires two-thirds approval failed in the state Senate last week. But the chamber did muster enough votes to pass a regular bill.

Julianne Thompson, of the Georgia Tea Party Patriots, accused Congress of arrogance.

And Virginia Galloway, head of Americans for Prosperity Georgia, said the issue was as much about states rights as it was about health care.