Can a Federal Actor, through coercion, or by the omission of information, force a U.S. citizen to waive a state-given Constitutional right?

Question

Can a Federal Actor, through the use of coercion, or by the omission of information, force a U.S. citizen to waive a state-given Constitutional right?

Specifically: On the date of March 19, 2010, an amendment to the Ohio State Constitution was passed. Article 1 Section 21, "Preservation Of The Freedom To Choose Health Care and Health Care Coverage:"

21 (A) No federal, state, or local law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system. (emphasis mine) (B) No federal, state, or local law or rule shall prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health insurance. (C) No federal, state, or local law or rule shall impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of health care or health insurance.

(D) This section does not affect laws or rules in effect as of March 19, 2010; affect which services a health care provider or hospital is required to perform or provide; affect terms and conditions of government employment; or affect any laws calculated to deter fraud or punish wrongdoing int he health care industry.

The American Healthcare Act, or "Obamacare" did not go into effect until March 23, 2010. All Ohioans have this right. The problem is that all Ohio federal taxpayers must use Form 1040 to file their yearly taxes. Form 1040 for the years of 2014 through 2018 have Line 61, which requires the proof of acceptable health insurance coverage, a valid exemption from the coverage, or assess oneself with a penalty. If Ohioans have a right NOT to have to be compelled to acquire health insurance, then how could this form be constitutional in the State of Ohio? The use of force in this situation would be threats of fines for not filing taxes, while one is refusing to waive a state-given right.

Answer 1

Under Article VI of the United States Constitution,

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Affordable Care Act is a law of the United States which was made pursuant to the United States Constitution. It is therefore the supreme law of the land, “any Thing in the Constitution of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.” Provisions that violate the federal constitution are invalid, but those are invalid no matter what state laws or state constitutions say. Federal power to preempt state law is basically absolute within the sphere of federal authority (and again, outside that sphere the federal action is unconstitutional no matter what states say).

This means the federal government isn’t really forcing you to waive a state-given right. That implies you have a right to waive, but states can’t give you rights enforceable against the federal government (there might be some narrow exceptions, but I can’t think of any off the top of my head). States do sometimes pass laws or constitutional amendments claiming to overrule the federal government. They can do this, but these laws have no effect. Things get more complicated when the federal government is interfering with the actual operations of state governments, but the ACA regulates individuals.