CHICAGO (Reuters) – Less than 24 hours after the House of Representatives gave final approval to a sweeping overhaul of healthcare, attorneys general from several states on Monday said they will sue to block the plan on constitutional grounds.

Republican attorneys general in 11 states warned that lawsuits will be filed to stop the federal government overstepping its constitutional powers and usurping states' sovereignty.

States are concerned the burden of providing healthcare will fall on them without enough federal support.

Ten of the attorneys general plan to band together in a collective lawsuit on behalf of Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.

"To protect all Texans' constitutional rights, preserve the constitutional framework intended by our nation's founders, and defend our state from further infringement by the federal government, the State of Texas and other states will legally challenge the federal health care legislation," said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, in a statement.

The Republican attorney generals say the reforms infringe on state powers under the Constitution's Bill of Rights.

Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli, who plans to file a lawsuit in federal court in Richmond, Virginia, said Congress lacks authority under its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce to force people to buy insurance. The bill also conflicts with a state law that says Virginians cannot be required to buy insurance, he added.

"If a person decides not to buy health insurance, that person by definition is not engaging in commerce," Cuccinelli said in recorded comments. "If you are not engaging in commerce, how can the federal government regulate you?"

In addition to the pending lawsuits, bills and resolutions have been introduced in at least 36 state legislatures seeking to limit or oppose various aspects of the reform plan through laws or state constitutional amendments, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

So far, only two states, Idaho and Virginia, have enacted laws, while an Arizona constitutional amendment is seeking voter approval on the November ballot. But the actual enactment of the bill by President Barack Obama could spur more movement on the measures by state lawmakers.

As is the case on the Congressional level, partisan politics is in play on the state level, where no anti-health care reform legislation has emerged in Democrat-dominated states like Illinois and New York, according to the NCSL.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican candidate running for governor, said the mandate would cost Florida at least $1.6 billion in Medicaid alone.

All states would receive extra funding to cover Medicaid costs that are expected to rise under the reform, including 100 percent federal coverage for new enrollees under the plan through 2016.

Medicaid is the healthcare program for the poor jointly administered by the states and federal government.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100322/pl_nm/us_usa_healthcare_states

Supreme Court here we come!

C. L. Otter, Idaho, secedes his state from mandatory health care. OTTO became the first governor to sign a measure requiring his attorney general to sue Congress if it passes health care legislation that requires residents to buy insurance.

37 states already have some form of pending legislation.

That's the reason the mandatory part of the bill doesn't take effect for a long time. These democratic congresspeople know that people will forget and move on, and they will if they have jobs and the economy is good. Anger only last awhile before a new anger comes along!!!And the old one is forgotten.

The Democratic Attorney General here in Nevada is preparing to file suit as well. The Governor said will will proceed on his end with or with out her

I agree, it will pass. Its like saying,,well since I dont have kids, Im not taking part in education so none of my tax should go to that,,or

because I can CHOOSE not to drive on the roads, I shouldnt contribute towards that


the problem is accidents happen and people get sick and they dont PLAN on it,,,but when it happens those who did plan are stuck with the bill,, which negatively affects commerce, which means , I think, that healthcare will be a covered PRIVILEGE in america which we pay for just like Education and highways...
I started out not sure how this will turn out, and I am still not sure,, but the more I think about the actual PRECEDENT for this type of thing,, I am leaning more towards it not being a victorious fight.

the supreme court should strike this bill down as being against the constitution

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Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note

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.

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where in the constitution does the federal government get the responsibility of making sure the """people""" must have medical coverage

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that power is reserved for the """people""" or the states per the 10th ammendment

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Section 8 - Powers of Congress

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.


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i do not see the words mandate medical coverage to the """people""" in the section of the constitution labeled powers of congress

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but hey what do i know

the republicans are pissed cause they haven't had anything even close to a healthcare reform.actually they haven't had any ideas ever cause well americans health isn't as important than just sticking their elephant dick up in our american a$$

maybe because it is not the federal govt place to have a health care agenda

the federal govt is prohibited from passing such law by the constitution

thus the republicans have no reason to pass health care reform

i am nofan of the republican party neither

imo both the major parties should be on the terrorist watch list no two other groups have done more to threaten the constitution and the liberties it provides the """people""" than those two parties except maybe the """people""" themselves === w/their lax and lazy attitude towards their responsibilities of governing the government


but hey what do i know

yeah but the thing is they have healthcare paid by who.....us

and they are supposed to work for who (us)

many employers provide health insurance

what is your point

simple every american citizen should have healthcare,why do we have to work and pay for it while we have to pay income tax and medicare,why do we have to wait till we are old and almost ready to kick the bucket before we get federal medical aid,why can't a 23 year old go into a hospital and get covered without a deductable the politicains kids don't have to so they aren't really representing "us" are they

simply put if i pay taxes on my land,house,when i buy something, and cause i work,well hell atleast the government can cover me to go get a flu shot or cause my arm got cut off so i don't have to sue anyone...wait just think of all the money states would save on lawsuits for hospital cost...just a thought

lets get out of iraq and lets stop overpaying officals who really don't do anything,let's stop throwing everyone in prison for nonviolent or sexual crimes....theres a start on cutting federal spending to the states

make churches pay full land tax cost and not give "snowbirds" tax breaks cause they only live 6 months out of the year in a county because they bring tourist money think about if they can do that they have money and a descent amount really they'll come here anyway to get out of the cold

and have the federal government regulate hospital cost..so they don't charge it 50 dollars for a toothbrush

or just print more money

take an economics class

print more money devalues the money on hand

you have say 5000 in the bank

the govt says we need 6trillon to bailout the banking industry

how much is your 5k worth then

in a few weeks it has lost about half of its buying power

but hey what do i know

to be honest healthcare in America is only won by the insurance companies this country is so stupid when it comes to it other countries have it and are basically fine cause they don't go and spend money on other countries issues but hey it is what it is an there will be a solution eventually but as long as the two major parties think that each others ideas can hurt their own then this disagreement will continue