Florida attorney general will sue to block health care bill

[redrumloa]

There is common sense left in a few politicians at least!

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said Tuesday that requiring Americans to buy health insurance or face a government penalty is unconstitutional and vowed to file a lawsuit to block it.

McCollum, a Republican who is running for governor in November, called the provision in the Democrat-driven health care overhaul a "living tax."

In a four-page legal brief, McCollum said provisions requiring people to buy health care "violate constitutional principles and lack constitutional authority for Congress to enact." He sent the analysis to Democratic and Republican congressional leaders.

"Never before has Congress compelled Americans, under threat of government fines or taxes, to purchase an unwanted product or service simply as a condition of existing in this country," McCollum wrote.

Yaaah for common sense!

 

[ltstanfo]

It will be interesting to see just how far this goes. I have heard this argument proposed before. Indeed, there is a movement to place such legal challenges should "Obama care" come to pass. Time to buy a bag of popcorn and watch from the la-z-boy...

Regards,
Ltstanfo

 

[faethor]

I think it's an intersting question but likely to fail. Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce. This could be seen as a type of regulation. Congress also has the power to levy taxes. This would be handed out as a Tax. We do have mandated purchases via taxes. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid -- all fall into that category. So there is something that well may be seen as precedent. We also have other mandates such as auto insurance, that are similar in nature. I think there's enough there that Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum will likely fail in this endeavor. And yes even with a conservative Supreme Court.

Personally I don't like the payment to insurance industry. They are a large part of the problem. They take profits for moving paper not healthcare. I'd prefer to see Single Payer or medicare expanded to all care and expanded to all citizens.

 

[ilwrath]

I think it's an intersting question but likely to fail. Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce. This could be seen as a type of regulation. Congress also has the power to levy taxes. This would be handed out as a Tax. We do have mandated purchases via taxes. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid -- all fall into that category.

Well, it is an interesting question, and I agree, it's likely to fail, but I think that is more due to the momentum this bill has gained rather than anything.

The taxes collected for Social Security, Medicare, etc would only be relevant to this argument if there were a public option. Last I heard, there wouldn't be? It seems like that really makes this a completely different type of argument.

We also have other mandates such as auto insurance, that are similar in nature.

Very true. But as far as I know, that is determined on a state-by-state basis, not nationally. Also, that shows a great reason to fear this, as Michigan is a 'no-fault' state that forces you to buy auto insurance if you own a car, and we have some of the highest rates and worst coverage in the country... The insurance companies no longer have to court us as customers, but just abuse us in their ever-increasing thirst for profits and bonuses for their executives. When you can no longer vote with your wallet, your wallet takes a beating.

Personally I don't like the payment to insurance industry. They are a large part of the problem. They take profits for moving paper not healthcare. I'd prefer to see Single Payer or medicare expanded to all care and expanded to all citizens.

I have to agree. For-profit insurance companies are, by definition, a cancer to whatever system they are in. They take money by not providing anything. Mandating that we HAVE to pay them doesn't improve the system, it just improves their profits.

 

[redrumloa]

I've always had the dream of moving out to Montana, hording guns and freeze dried food and living completely off-grid. The health care bill would make this illegal, so much for being the land of the free.

One question I have, no one seems to want to take a stab at answering. What will happen with homeless people? The homeless typically don't have an income and don't file income tax. I have to assume they will be rounded up and thrown in prison? Or will they simply dissapear, since no one would notice or care?

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Time to buy a bag of popcorn and watch from the la-z-boy...

There's some bad health advice.
TV kills

 

[Glaucus]

Time to buy a bag of popcorn and watch from the la-z-boy...

There's some bad health advice.
TV kills

Interesting study. I wonder if "sitting in front of the TV" can be also interpreted as "sitting in front of a computer monitor". Banging away on keys isn't likely to get the heart going much. Maybe I should turn my music up louder for the involuntary toe tapping to get the blood flowing. Either way, I think we're all screwed!

@Red, forget Montana. If you wanna rough it in a red neck paradise with free medical care just move to Alberta. But bring a good jacket.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

I wonder if "sitting in front of the TV" can be also interpreted as "sitting in front of a computer monitor".

Pretty sure it's the same. So, let me see, 10 to 12 hours of sitting at the 'puter per day means ... oh crap, I'm already dead!!

 

[faethor]

One question I have, no one seems to want to take a stab at answering. What will happen with homeless people? The homeless typically don't have an income and don't file income tax. I have to assume they will be rounded up and thrown in prison? Or will they simply dissapear, since no one would notice or care?

Hopefully the medical side will get better. Today hospitals are motivated to stablize. Further medical treatments aren't paid for and aren't done. If everyone is covered a hospital or doctor should continue treatment without fear it'll cost them money.

Now how to make the homeless pay? Provisions in the bill give credits to the empoverished to buy care. I doubt anyone is sure. I suspect homeless will have to select a provider and some sort of payment from the government as a credit to the individual will be arranged.

 

[Glaucus]

I wonder if "sitting in front of the TV" can be also interpreted as "sitting in front of a computer monitor".

Pretty sure it's the same. So, let me see, 10 to 12 hours of sitting at the 'puter per day means ... oh crap, I'm already dead!!

We've also heard how watching the boob tube makes one more of a... um... a boob! This research suggests exercise improves memory. At least in lab mice it does: Physical exercise helps brains grow, mouse study finds. So all we need to do is let those mice exercise like mad, teach them English and carry them around in our pockets. And presto, you no longer need to remember a thing! Except of course to not sit on the little bugger! :mrgreen: