Five States Sue Government Over Medicare

LAS VEGAS SUN ^ | March 03, 2006 | By LIZ AUSTIN

[SUSSA]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas and four other states sued the federal government Friday, alleging they are being forced to help fund the new Medicare prescription drug program in violation of the Constitution.

In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott argued that states should not have to relinquish taxpayer dollars to pay for a program offered by the federal government.

"The federal government has placed what amounts to a direct tax upon Texas and other states in violation of the U.S. Constitution," Abbott said in a statement.

[From many - one.]

The infamous part D.

Got to go.

[SUSSA]

Here's more about this.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-scotus/2006/mar/04/030409738.html

[CDHart]

It's actually far worse than just Medicare. Fedgov dictates and we pay, "we" being the taxpayers. I am heartily sick of the power-hungry, posturing, greedy, lazy idiots that populate our Senate, House and the rest of the government.

Carolyn

[kaotic133]

About freakin' time! Unfortunately, I doubt anything comes out of this case. Why would the Supreme Court start protecting the constitution all of a sudden?

[From many - one.]

Looks pretty bipartisan, which is good:

Filed by:Texas, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri and New Jersey

Supported by: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Vermont.

[SUSSA]

Why would the Supreme Court start protecting the constitution all of a sudden?

We can only hope they start. I'd like to see them rule the whole thing unconstitutional.

[wita]

I find the article inadequate in explaining the whys and wherefors of medicare medicade funding as it relates to the various states. It does appear that this drug benefit is at best nebulous, and throwing a wrench into the mix. If so, it will perhaps be modified so that states don't feel the need to require companies within their borders to pay the state an offset based on some formula related to how much they presently spend on their employees health care.

This sudden "right" to health insurance is going to cause no end of political problems until the right goes away, or we end up with socialized medicine.

[SUSSA]

or we end up with socialized medicine.

###

That's the end game. This was put in place as a first step. Like slowly turning up the heat on a from on a pot of water.

Hillary Care was too much, too fast. So they came back with Bush Care to get the ball rolling. I hope the court kills the whole thing.