Durbin to chair hearing on health care (constitutionality - on Wednesday)

The Southern ^ | 2/01/11 | CALEB HALE

[Libloather]

Durbin to chair hearing on health care
BY CALEB HALE, THE SOUTHERN
Posted: Tuesday, February 1, 2011 2:00 am

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will be chairing a congressional hearing Wednesday on the constitutionality of last year's health care reform bill, an event that will likely challenge Monday's latest ruling by a federal Florida judge the law is unconstitutional.

Durbin, D-Springfield, a staunch supporter of the reform, said two judges have upheld the law and two found that Congress over-reached its boundaries in mandating people buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties. Legal challenges, which have been brought up in 26 states, are driven by partisan opposition to the reform, Durbin added.

The latest judicial ruling also comes two weeks after House Republicans passed a bill to repeal the health care law. Similar efforts in the Senate aren't expected to pass.

Wednesday's hearing will be before the full Judiciary Committee. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, will be the panel's ranking mem-ber.

Fellow Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, said Florida followed Virginia - the other state to rule against the law - because "Congress cannot force Americans to buy what they may not want."

"This year, I will work to repeal and replace this law with better reforms like medical malpractice reform and protections for your right to buy health insurance from any state in the union," Kirk added.

U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, who recently voted to repeal the bill, indicated the case against the reform is growing. Shimkus has urged Gov. Pat Quinn to challenge the law, but so far the Quinn administration has given no indication they intend to do so.

"Individuals' rights and freedoms must be protected," Shimkus said. "If eventually overturned, we should proceed with respon-sible health care reform that contains insurance reform that lowers cost, improves access, and maintains the doctor-patient rela-tionships."

A request for comment from U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, was not returned by a spokesman by deadline Monday. Costello has maintained his support for the reform, saying it is better to fix what needs to be fixed rather than repeal it altogether.

[Libloather]

On C-Span right now. Caught some Harvard dude who said something like, "Congress must mandate health insurance payments because it must regulate commerce." It was so twisted, it was hard to follow.

Should be some great questioning coming up.

[556x45]

Nope, the morons are the electorate who continue sending them there. Its far more than reforming DC, its reforming the country as a whole.

[MinuteGal]

Richard "the Dick" Turban is probably one of the most evil, devious and subversive pieces of flesh ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate in its history. He brings nothing but shame to the Land of Lincoln.

Nonetheless, I love it when ghouls like he call for open hearings on ANYTHING. It usually results in exposure of what they stand for and the complete reversal of what they were hoping for.

When his turn for interrogation comes, I'm waiting to hear the GOP ranking member announce....."next witness, Mark Levin."

BTW, does anyone know if this hearing is being televised...and if so, where and when? Thanks.

Leni

[TankerKC]

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will be chairing a congressional hearing Wednesday on the constitutionality of last year's health care reform bill, an event that will likely challenge Monday's latest ruling by a federal Florida judge the law is unconstitutional.

Funny, I thought an appeal would be the next step. I guess Sen Turbin took civics from Sen Schmuker.

[tacticalogic]

What happened to the “We just vote on the bills, and let the courts decide if it’s constitutional.” mantra?

[Libloather]

...does anyone know if this hearing is being televised...and if so, where and when?

It's on C-Span right now. Good stuff.

[hinckley buzzard]

would it not drop health insurance right on the front porch of the (mis-read interpretation of) the Commerce Clause, thus allowing the fedgov to “manage”it?

You make an excellent point. The GOP best look carefully at this particular "reform." They could easily shoot themselves in the foot.

[MinuteGal]

Thanks for letting us know that CSpam is carrying this hearing.

I find this hearing more edifying than watching the endless clips of the Egyptian rioters.

Especially interesting is watching that old socialist creep (former soliciter general Fried) willing to allow ANY congress to impose with the force of his interpretation of constitutional law ANYTHING it wants on us at any time.

Truly frightening.

However, there's a couple smart testifiers on our side, thank God. With clarity and acumen, they're winning the day, IMO.

Keep an eye on this guy, Carvin....absolutely brilliant in his testimony.

This is a hearing worth watching.

Leni

[goldi]

So, they were so sure that Obamacare would pass constitutional muster they felt they needn’t bother with the clause because everybody knows that the whole thing would just fall apart and of course, Congress has the absolute right to force people to buy something they don’t want, even broccoli. Except that they feel that they can force you to buy broccoli and eat it too according to Elena Kagen.

Arrogant you-know-what’s.

I would have loved to see Obama’s face when he got the news.