"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God?" -- Thomas Jefferson

"And yet the same revolutionary belief for which our forbears fought is still at issue around the globe, the belief that the rights of man come not from generosity of the state but from the hand of God." -- John F. Kennedy

"Because of their belief that power had come from God to each individual, the Framers began the Constitution with the words 'we the people'" -- Newt Gingrich

"There's never been a nation like the United States, ever. It begins with the principles of our founding documents, principles that recognize that our rights come from God, not from our government." -- Marco Rubio


Thursday, December 16, 2010

Rob McKenna to discuss Florida hearing on multi-state health care suit

Rob McKenna ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WASHINGTON 1125 Washington Street SE · PO Box 40100 · Olympia WA 98504-0100  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 16, 2010


Olympia  Judge Roger Vinson of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Pensacola today heard oral arguments in the multistate suit brought by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, 18 other states, two individuals and the National Federation of Independent Business.  McKenna:


“The individual health insurance mandate requiring all Americans to purchase their own insurance and the massive impact of the Medicaid mandate on state budgets together entail a huge expansion of federal power. Judge Vinson asked important questions today about the constitutionality of these two provisions, demonstrating that he is taking these arguments seriously.
“Improving our health care system is essential—and it is too important to build on an unconstitutional foundation.  We hope that Judge Vinson will issue his ruling early next year, allowing this case to continue to the Court of Appeals on its way to the Supreme Court.”

The two main provisions of the multi-state lawsuit challenge:

1) The unprecedented and unconstitutional requirement that all Americans must purchase or otherwise obtain health insurance or face a fine; and

2) The massive expansion of the Medicaid program which will unconstitutionally require states to spend billions more on this program at a time when state budgets are already in crisis.


Vinson heard oral arguments in Pensacola at 9 a.m. CST (7 a.m. PST).
McKenna held a telephonic media availability at noon PST.

Contacts:



· Janelle Guthrie, Communications Director, (360) 586-0725
· Dan Sytman, AGO Media Relations Manager, (360) 586-7842
· Sandi Copes, Florida Attorney General’s Office, (850) 245-0150

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