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Why ObamaCare Is Losing in the Courts (Government Lawyers Keep Changing Their Arguments)
Wall Street Journal ^ | 06/14/2011 | By DAVID B. RIVKIN JR. and LEE CASEY

Posted on 06/14/2011 9:40:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

When we first articulated ObamaCare's fundamental constitutional flaws in these pages nearly two years ago, our objections were met with derision by the law's defenders. Those who have been following the unfolding litigation are no longer laughing.

Three U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals are poised to render decisions on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the coming months. Despite hundreds of briefing pages and numerous oral arguments, government lawyers have yet to address the law's most basic constitutional infirmity. Only a "general police power"—the right to enact laws alleged to be in the public interest without regard to interstate commerce or some other federal legislative authority—can support the law's centerpiece, the "individual mandate" that all Americans purchase health insurance. The Constitution denies that power to the federal government, reserving it to the states alone.

In enacting the individual mandate, Congress purported to rely on its power to regulate interstate commerce and, in the process, reach individuals who are already engaged in that commerce. But the individual mandate does not regulate commerce, interstate or otherwise. It simply decrees that all Americans, unless specially exempted, must have a congressionally prescribed level of health-insurance coverage regardless of any economic activity in which they may be engaged. Requiring individuals to act simply because they exist is the defining aspect of the general police power that Congress lacks.

The government's lawyers, recognizing this fundamental constitutional reality, have tried to rewrite the law so that it can withstand judicial scrutiny. They have claimed that the individual mandate is a tax, despite common sense, judicial precedent, and numerous statements to the contrary by the law's sponsors and President Obama. They have also argued that ObamaCare does not actually impose a mandate on inactive citizens, but rather regulates how individuals will pay for their health care.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: constitution; courts; govtabuse; judgevinson; obama; obamacare; socialisthealthcare; tyranny

1 posted on 06/14/2011 9:40:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: SeekAndFind
They have claimed that the individual mandate is a tax
Not to mention that war is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength.

3 posted on 06/14/2011 9:54:57 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: SeekAndFind

Latest argument:

“Ve don need no steenkin’ constitushun!”


4 posted on 06/14/2011 9:57:50 AM PDT by pingman (Durn tootin'; I like Glock shootin'!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Great article. Too bad half of Congress is too dumb to understand it.


5 posted on 06/14/2011 10:09:46 AM PDT by freespirited (Stupid people are ruining America. --Herman Cain)
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To: SeekAndFind
They have claimed that the individual mandate is a tax ...

This is the same argument used by FDR to justify the constitutionality of Social Security.

6 posted on 06/14/2011 10:15:00 AM PDT by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: Bockscar
Sounds like you should be backing Bachmann for Prez.

Corollary to your tagline: Mexicans Reconquiste!

7 posted on 06/14/2011 10:15:23 AM PDT by Aevery_Freeman (The Sixteenth Amendment - a.k.a. - The Slavery Amendment)
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To: SeekAndFind

sfl


8 posted on 06/14/2011 10:16:55 AM PDT by phockthis
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To: pnh102
But that is a good program. Seniors no longer have to worry about poverty.

< /SARC>

9 posted on 06/14/2011 10:17:52 AM PDT by Aevery_Freeman (The Sixteenth Amendment - a.k.a. - The Slavery Amendment)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: Bockscar

Imagine the stress of having to defend the indefensable! I don’t envy ‘em.


11 posted on 06/14/2011 10:30:58 AM PDT by FiddlePig (truth is hard... lies are easy - http://redneckoblogger.blogspot.com)
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To: SeekAndFind

Here’s a new idea: Challenge the current progressive tax system based on the Constitution’s equal protection language. Those who are paying a higher percentage of their income in taxes are being denied equal protection. The progressive tax issue is also a “general police power that is reserved to the states”, and not under the jurisdiction of the United States Government. Treat us all alike, ie, tax everyone... don’t exempt those below a certain income bracket.


12 posted on 06/14/2011 10:38:41 AM PDT by Real Cynic No More (ual)
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To: SeekAndFind

Bk marked.

This should be at top of Drudge. EVERYONE should read it ....and cry for what we are about to lose.


13 posted on 06/14/2011 10:41:24 AM PDT by parisa
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: Real Cynic No More

Or how about one vote for each $100 in net taxes paid?


15 posted on 06/14/2011 12:02:41 PM PDT by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks SeekAndFind.

additional:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2734643/posts


16 posted on 06/17/2011 5:21:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: Real Cynic No More

It was challenged in the 1930s on that basis.


17 posted on 06/19/2011 4:54:22 AM PDT by Jacquerie
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