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Hey Congress, forget the bills and read the Constitution.
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Pelosi, when asked about the constitutionality of the House Health Care Bill: "Are you serious?"
Several years ago I signed up for Imprimis, a free monthly publication from Hillsdale College. It has proven to be a wonderful source of speeches from the greatest conservative minds in America. Click here to receive the free subscription.
Along with my first issue of Imprimis I received a little booklet that contained the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. That booklet was an invaluable resource when I taught American Government at Parkway Christian Academy.
Today the booklet is my constant companion, kept in my truck a short reach away. I have read that booklet many times, and thumb through it frequently, looking for the constitutional authority for some of the bills that are being passed by an out-of-control Congress. It’s amazing to me how many bills have no constitutional authority and how often Congress steps outside their constitutional restrictions in passing them.
When the House of Representatives recently passed the 2,000 page behemoth of a health care bill, House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, was asked by a reporter to cite the constitutional authority for legislation that mandates that every American purchase health insurance or face severe penalties, the only response she could muster was, “Are you serious?”
“You can put this on the record,” Nadeam Elshami, Pelosi’s press spokesman later said, “That is not a serious question.” Not a serious question? That question was as serious as a heart attack and we, as Americans have the right to a succinct answer.
When Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) was asked the same question, he explained to CNS News that it was constitutionally justified. Why? Because, according to Reed, it was no different than making people sign up for the draft. Said Reed, "Let me see... I would have to check the specific sections, so I'll have to get back to you on the specific section. But it is not unusual that the Congress has required individuals to do things, like sign up for the draft and do many other things too, which I don't think are explicitly contained.”
Unlike some of our elected officials, I have actually read the Constitution and there is no provision within its pages to force Americans to purchase any product, including insurance, even under the Interstate Commerce clause. Judge Andrew Napolitano, constitutional scholar, author, and FOX News contributor agrees. In a recent interview with House Majority Whip, James Clyburn, Napolitano asked, “Where in the Constitution is the federal government charged with maintaining people’s health?” Clyburn answered, “There’s nothing in the Constitution that says the federal government has anything to do with most of the stuff we do.” The Judge’s response: “You took an oath to uphold the Constitution. You can’t go outside the Constitution because you think it is a good thing to do without violating that oath!”
According to Pelosi and Reed it is a requirement for every American to purchase this government mandated product or face legal entanglements that could lead to a $250,000 fine and/or five years in jail. Americans who opt out can avoid jail by paying up to 2.5% of their income as a penalty.
The bill inflicts higher insurance premiums on younger Americans to reduce the insurance costs for older citizens. But young workers are traditionally at the low end of their earning potential. A 2.5% tax increase is not much of a hit for them. Therefore many young workers will gladly pay the tax disincentive to avoid those costly insurance premiums. That would result in an increase in the cost to older people who need the insurance to offset rising medical expenses that come with old age.
It’s obvious that Reed and Pelosi don’t have a clue as to what the U.S. Constitution says. Neither does Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid.
The Senate version of the bill has not yet been written in its entirety. Nevertheless, Reid plans to ram it down Americans’ throats. After some members of the Senate indicated that health care reform would not come to the Senate floor before next year, Reid secretly scheduled debate on the bill for this week.
Let me get this straight. Americans have been demanding that representatives read every legislative bill before voting on it, and that the public will have five days to look it over. But the five-day promise never materialized. So now the Senate is going to debate a bill that doesn’t even exist? What’s up with that?
A week ago Reid said, "They want us to do this the right way, not the fast way." What happened, Harry? What caused the turn around? Why the sudden rush? Could it be that contained within the bill are things that will make Americans rise up with scythes and pitchforks and drive the creators of this monster out of Washington?
I have always believed that congressional slight of hand means that they are trying to pull a fast one. That’s another reason why his horrible legislation must be stopped before the beast is given life. Not only is it way too expensive and way too punitive, but it’s being rushed through Congress without public scrutiny.
After killing the Health Care Reform Bill, we need to take measures to prevent this kind of legislative malpractice from ever happening again. Americans should vote all the bums out of office and then demand the immediate passage of the Enumerated Powers Act, a bill that requires Congress to cite the constitutional authority for every piece of legislation that comes before them.
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