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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A House panel has advanced a bill declaring South Carolina's opposition to the federal health care law.

The measure approved Wednesday 4-2 along party lines would put Republican lawmakers' well-known opposition into state law. It says no state employee could help enforce provisions of the federal law.

The vote was met by applause from a room packed with supporters.

Democratic Rep. James Smith of Columbia says the bill is nothing more than political theater that changes nothing.

The bill made any federal employee attempting to enforce the law a felon. But Republican Reps. Tommy Pope and Rick Quinn said the state cannot put federal judges in prison.

Their amendment threw out the punishments. The bill reaffirms the Legislature's right to pass legislation later.