By RAJU CHEBIUM
Gannett Washington BureauWASHINGTON, DC(GNS) -- Gov.-elect Nikki Haley told Republican congressional leaders Wednesday that South Carolina needs fewer federal mandates and more freedom to solve problems on its own.She and other GOP governors elected on Nov. 2 met with House Speaker-designate John Boehner of Ohio and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. They discussed how to limit the federal government's rules, regulations and mandates, she said."What we said was, `We need you to help us fight these mandates like health care and we, in turn, will, give you state solutions,'" Haley said after a news conference with the two Republican leaders. "This is a coalition of governors that's not just going to say no but give solutions."She called on Washington to give states the flexibility to curb frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits, reform Medicaid and allow health care insurers to sell policies across state lines, a long-standing GOP proposal."We will not stop until we see a repeal of this mandatory health care," Haley said. "And that means that governors have to, one, work hard with their federal delegations to tell them no, two, do coalitions like this and say why this is going to hurt businesses in our state, why it's going to hurt people in our state, and then be loud and vocal."Hours earlier, a Virginia federal judge threw out a lawsuit against the health care reform legislation that President Barack Obama signed into law in March, ruling that provisions requiring people to purchase health coverage are constitutional.Haley and other newly elected Democratic and Republican governors will meet with President Barack Obama on Thursday at the White House at Obama's invitation.She said she will tell the president her views on the health care reform law and urge him to retain the Bush-era tax cuts."And to let them know that states' rights matter," Haley added. "For the federal government to be so arrogant to think that they know what's best for our states is wrong for the people of this country."Asked if she's preparing to confront the president on the health care reform law, his signature domestic policy achievement, Haley replied, "This is not confrontational. This is a communication that is starting."Boehner said he and McConnell wanted to meet with the GOP governors because states are the "innovators of democracy." Congressional Republicans will work closely with GOP governors to cut spending and increase state flexibility, he said."We want to establish a relationship with the governors," he said. "We want to work to get and provide the kind of flexibility that I think governors are looking for."/>
