Slade Gorton misses the point
Slade Gorton misses the point in his letter [“State AG McKenna has authority to challenge health-care mandate,” Opinion, March 27] endorsing state Attorney General Rob McKenna’s challenge of the health-care bill President Obama signed.
He may have the right to do so, but it’s the wrong action.
McKenna is abusing his authority, improperly representing people who elected him and supporting a movement that is dividing this country because his party opposes anything the “other side” does and because it generates attention to support a 2012 gubernatorial nomination.
The issue McKenna and others need to understand is that this country needs a better health-care solution. Obama’s plan may not be perfect, but it is a necessary improvement that could favorably evolve if politicians —regardless of party affiliation —work together for the benefit of those who put them in office. Sadly, that effort has been lost in a political game that has gotten out of hand and is a waste of time, money and energy that must be better directed.
Public servants such as McKenna need to politically “man up” and make the most of attempts to improve his constituencies’ quality of life, even though they’re not originated by his party.
— Mike Gugliotto, Sammamish
McKenna just wants to destroy Obama
Your Sunday editorial [“McKenna has a case,” Opinion, March 28] concluding Rob McKenna has the authority to challenge our new health-care law’s constitutionality misses the point. The real issue is that decision’s wisdom on a political and a moral level.
McKenna has calculated his political interests are best served by aligning himself with those whose single-minded mission is to defeat President Obama by any means necessary, including distortions and outright lies.
To do this, McKenna and his allies are prepared to deny adequate health care to millions of families in Washington and across this country. We can only hope the state’s historically moderate voters will remember the side McKenna chose next time he runs for office.
— Barbara Klein, Federal Way
Health-care bill is illegal; look at the Constitution
I my not be an expert on the U.S. Constitution, but I do know what is in it.
Some legal experts allude to the health-care reform bill as “essentially a taxing and spending program.” Yes, Congress can tax us. It can also “regulate commerce … among the several states.” That is regulating interstate commerce, but not intrastate commerce. The Constitution limits congressional power to regulate interstate commerce. That means Congress cannot give advantage to one state over another when it come to interstate commerce. As the law exists, health-care insurance is intrastate commerce and not interstate commerce. In Washington state cannot purchase health-care insurance outside the borders of this state.
Insurance is a product. The Constitution gives federal government neither the power to force its citizens to purchase a product nor the power to fine its citizens for not purchasing a product. The recently passed health-care reform legislation “fines” people for not purchasing a product.
If the recently-passed legislation only “taxed” people (say a 2.8 percent tax on income, similar to the Social Security Tax), then state Attorney General Rob McKenna might not have a valid lawsuit.
The lawsuit McKenna is pursuing is not a “frivolous” lawsuit. It is very serious. If the federal government has overstepped its power, then we should thank McKenna for protecting us against the federal governments’ abuse of power.
McKenna’s lawsuit is not about the validity and necessity of health-care reform — it is about abuse of power. Let this lawsuit play out in the judicial courts and not the court of public opinion or the opinions of “experts” in the legal industry. I am sure if this lawsuit is successful, will quickly amend the law to change the fines (for not purchasing health-care insurance) to an outright tax on our income.
— Charlie Peters, Seattle