Posted on July 6, 2010.
McKenna tears special bill of health to face Nebraska The Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna joins several other Republican AG in protest against a special offer for Nebraska, which was inserted into the bill the Senate health care.
This provision was added to win support from Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat seen as a crucial vote of 60. Under the agreement, Washington and other states would have to pay for part of an expansion of Medicaid to cover health care for poor families. But Nebraska's tab would be picked up entirely by the federal government.
In an interview today, McKenna said he believes that this provision may violate Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution says Congress can levy taxes for the well-being "general" state- United, not for a special benefit for a particular state.
"We believe it is constitutionally defective. We continue to research," McKenna said. And outside of the law ', it seems just not right, "he added.
McKenna said he was invited to participate in a possible challenge to "the purchase of Nebraska" in South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster.
Their counterparts in Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, North Dakota and Texas - all Republicans - have also protested against the agreement of Nebraska.
McKenna objections to the bill of health care does not stop at the disposal of Nebraska.
He said he may also consider whether it is constitutional for the federal government to require all residents of the United States to purchase health insurance.
McKenna said that the warrant may violate the 10th Amendment, which limits the powers of the federal government - in other powers reserved to the States.
"The U.S. government has never kept the citizens of the United States to buy a good or service," said McKenna. He stopped to say he had launched a legal challenge on that basis. "We must do more work on this," he said.
And generally, McKenna said he believed the insurance coverage could be expanded by reducing burdensome regulations that drive up state costs, and avoid policies phones to be offered across state borders.
"We act as if the companies quality assurance in a free market environment, but they are not," said McKenna.
