Perry raises possibility of states' rights showdown with White House over healthcare

Star-Telegram ^ | July 23, 2009 | DAVE MONTGOMERY

[NCjim]

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, raising the specter of a showdown with the Obama administration, suggested Thursday that he would consider invoking states’ rights protections under the 10th Amendment to resist the president’s healthcare plan, which he said would be "disastrous" for Texas.

Interviewed by conservative talk show host Mark Davis of Dallas’ WBAP/820 AM, Perry said his first hope is that Congress will defeat the plan, which both Perry and Davis described as "Obama Care." But should it pass, Perry predicted that Texas and a "number" of states might resist the federal health mandate.

"I think you’ll hear states and governors standing up and saying 'no’ to this type of encroachment on the states with their healthcare," Perry said. "So my hope is that we never have to have that stand-up. But I’m certainly willing and ready for the fight if this administration continues to try to force their very expansive government philosophy down our collective throats."

[NCjim]

Don't mess with Texas!

[Travis McGee]

CW2 Ping

[GoCards]

Oh please, oh please, oh please. Perry has my vote on this. Wonder what Kay says?

[ctdonath2]

Any word on where Georgia may stand?

This gives us all an opening to really get our state reps involved against this atrocity.

[tbpiper]

Wonder what Kay says?

Probably looking for some kind of bi-partisan solution that's not so reactionary, so drastic, so ,ewwww, constitutional. But I'm just guessing.

[CodeToad]

They should also be saying this to Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. None of those are federal issues, certainly not constitutional. If they are going to say this about health care this opens the door to those other unlawful programs.

[Sig Sauer P220]

Its my understanding that Perry is all hat and no cattle.

[al_c]

He’s just posturing for his next re-election bid. Once elected, he’ll do a 180.

[2001convSVT]

"But should it pass, Perry predicted that Texas and a “number” of states might resist the federal health mandate."

What do you mean MIGHT! Just come out and say you will or you won't. Yes it would be disastrous. So come out and say that the 10th WILL BE invoked and Texas will under no circumstances accept federal government run health care. Bottom line TAKE A STAND Governor Perry!

[stephenjohnbanker]

I could envision as many as half the states in the country
flipping off Obama’s communist healthcare.

[TexasKamaAina]

Its my understanding that Perry is all hat and no cattle.

Yep.

[stephenjohnbanker]

As usual the position is “I might have a backbone”

[Reaganwuzthebest]

"I don’t think it’s surprising that the governor is taking a stand against it," said Anne Dunkelberg, associate director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, an Austin-based research organization that supports the House version of Obama’s plan. "Unfortunately, the national dialogue on health reform has been extraordinarily partisan and polarized."

If Anne Dunkelberg cared about the Constitution instead of her own personal agenda then she would lobby the state of Texas to reform health care to her liking. Where in the Commerce Clause does it say the feds have a right to mandate that we all have health insurance?

[penelopesire]

It’s better than all heels and no fight like you get with Hutchinson.

GO PERRY!!

[Texas Fossil]

Perry called on Texans in the House and Senate to oppose the plan. "I can’t imagine that anyone from Texas who cares about this state would vote for Obama Care. I don’t care whether you’re Democrat or Republican," he said. Of those Texans who might consider supporting the plan, he said: "This may sound a little bit harsh, but they might ought to consider representing some other state because they’re sure not representing Texas."

[RVN Airplane Driver]

Its my understanding that Perry is all hat and no cattle.

IMHO your understanding is incorrect!

[2001convSVT]

You have a point there. I will most likely vote for Perry in the Republican primary. I could not stomach a Hutchinson administration. The old rock and hard place game.

[TWfromTEXAS]

Perry is not all hat and no cattle. He doesn't have a hat either, it would mess his hair!

[penelopesire]

She is weak on everything now. I watched her on CSPAN a few weeks ago during the Cap and Scam debate and could not believe what I was watching. She is so ineffective as to be almost invisible. Not the kind of person we need running Texas.

[Jack Black]

They should also be saying this to Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. None of those are federal issues, certainly not constitutional. If they are going to say this about health care this opens the door to those other unlawful programs.

How about passing this law in Texas:

"Participation in Federally mandated insurance and retirement programs shall be voluntary for citizens of the State of Texas."

Now that's some pro-choice legislation I can get excited about.