In a letter to the editor by Michael Barr of Sammamish in the April 16 edition of the Redmond Reporter, he stated that challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare was a bunch of baloney.
The truth of the situation is, determining the constitutionality of Obamacare does matter because the Constitution matters.
Whether you are for or against Obamacare, taking this case to court is of the upmost importance. This will resolve once and for all the constitutionality of the government mandating to citizens the purchasing of goods and services (aka healthcare in this case).
If Obamacare is found to be constitutional, then the government will have the right to mandate anything to its subjects.
The national polls show overwhelming majorities do not want mandated health insurance, but they do want real healthcare reform. The current healthcare system costs are spiraling up because of layers of mandates, out of control litigation, and a system where consumers have little accountability for the money spent, among many other problems.
It is amazing that to get this horrendous bill passed, the Democrats, with the majority, still had to offer bribes and twist arms to get the votes. You can’t deny the expensive earmarks that are going to be handed out, they are well documented. Some overtures for bipartisanship were made, but the reality is, the Democrats are in power and they had already made up their minds.
It may seem odd that so many states are filing suits or joining together to file suit, but if you understand our Constitution, it makes perfect sense. The 10th amendment declares “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The Attorney Generals who are filing suit are doing their job, representing their individual states, many times in opposition to their Governors.
Searching the Internet I could find no evidence of coercion as Barr mentioned in his letter, regarding Gov. Jindal.
Given the additional cost dumped on the states by Obamacare, the layoffs Barr mentioned probably are related to Louisana freeing up state money to fund the Obamacare mandates.
Where is there an outrage that our own state legislators have threatened our Attorney General with a budget maneuver to stop the lawsuit because they disagree with his actions? I’m thankful that Attorney General Rob McKenna takes his position and the Constitution very seriously and is fighting to protect our rights as a state.
Linda M. Witt, Redmond
