Idaho
was one of several states filing a lawsuit this week challenging the
new federal health care law. As Glenn Mosley reports, these current
events are a reminder of the role the U.S. Constitution plays in our
lives.
When Idaho joined with several other states in
filing the lawsuit, the state attorney general's office said the health
care reform bill signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday was
unconstitutional because it mandates that all citizens and legal
residents have qualifying health care coverage or pay a penalty. Bob
Cooper is spokesman for Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden:
Cooper: “Does the commerce clause of the United States Constitution give Congress the power to compel individuals to engage in economic activity?”
University of Idaho College of Law Professor Richard Seamon has written extensively on federalism and state's rights and he says the lawsuit poses two issues:
Seamon: “One has to do with the federal government's power over individuals and the other one has to do with what kind of requirements it can put on the states.”
Seamon says the issues being debated are a reminder that the Constitution is distinctive and at the front and center of current events:
Seamon: “People are continuing to read it, and argue about it-- makes it a dynamic document, provides for a dynamic form of government. I think that's a very healthy thing.”
I'm Glenn Mosley reporting.
Note: This story was produced with the help of the Peter Jennings Project for Journalists and the Constitution at The National Constitution Center. Glenn Mosley was a Jennings Fellow in February, 2010.
On the web:
www.ag.idaho.gov
http://constitutioncenter.org/jennings/
Copyright 2010 Northwest Public Radio
Cooper: “Does the commerce clause of the United States Constitution give Congress the power to compel individuals to engage in economic activity?”
University of Idaho College of Law Professor Richard Seamon has written extensively on federalism and state's rights and he says the lawsuit poses two issues:
Seamon: “One has to do with the federal government's power over individuals and the other one has to do with what kind of requirements it can put on the states.”
Seamon says the issues being debated are a reminder that the Constitution is distinctive and at the front and center of current events:
Seamon: “People are continuing to read it, and argue about it-- makes it a dynamic document, provides for a dynamic form of government. I think that's a very healthy thing.”
I'm Glenn Mosley reporting.
Note: This story was produced with the help of the Peter Jennings Project for Journalists and the Constitution at The National Constitution Center. Glenn Mosley was a Jennings Fellow in February, 2010.
On the web:
www.ag.idaho.gov
http://constitutioncenter.org/jennings/
Copyright 2010 Northwest Public Radio
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