I sue you!

[Username]

Finally, someone sticking up for what all of us are thinking. I like Ken, a lot.



Cuccinelli's office confirms Virginia will sue over health care
Rosalind Helderman

A spokesman for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) said this afternoon that Virginia will file suit against the federal government if the Democratic health care reform bill is approved by the U.S. Congress.

Cuccinelli has long said he was examining the legal issues and suggested he would likely file suit. Brian Gottstein, a spokesman for the office, said this afternoon that a lawsuit is now a definite. Gottstein would provide no details of the legal rationale for such a suit, indicating the process is "still being worked out."

Virginia last week became the first state in the country to pass a state bill declaring it illegal for the government to require individuals to purchase health insurance, a key part of bills under consideration on Capitol Hill.

We are also expecting to receive a letter shortly that Cuccinelli is sending to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warning her that using the so-called "deem and pass" procedure to pass the Senate health reform bill in the House would open the measure to additional constitutional challenges from the states.

UPDATE: We've received a copy of Cuccinelli's letter to Pelosi. In it, he writes: "Should you employ the deem and pass tactic, you expose any act which may pass to yet another constitutional challenge."

The full letter is included after the jump.

March 17, 2010 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Office of the Speaker H-232, U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. Dear Speaker Pelosi: I am writing to urge you not to proceed with the Senate Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act under a so-called "deem and pass" rule because such a course of action would raise grave constitutional questions. Based upon media interviews and statements which I have seen, you are considering this approach because it might somehow shield members of Congress from taking a recorded vote on an overwhelmingly unpopular Senate bill. This is an improper purpose under the bicameralism requirements of Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, one of the purposes of which is to make our representatives fully accountable for their votes. Furthermore, to be validly enacted, the Senate bill would have to be accepted by the House in a form that is word-for-word identical (Clinton v. City of New York, 524 U.S. 417 (1998)). Should you employ the deem and pass tactic, you expose any act which may pass to yet another constitutional challenge. A bill of this magnitude should not be passed using this maneuver. As the President noted last week, the American people are entitled to an up or down vote. Sincerely, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II Attorney General of Virginia

[TheGodfather]

Bravo Ken! Go get 'em!

[VBshooter]

THis could get the ball rolling in the country ,, I support what Cuccinelli is doing 100%. Some energy needs to be kicked into the fight and this help immensely.

[zephyp]

Well the governor of Idaho claimed first blood to actually sign the first bill against messiahcare yesterday I think...Virginia was the first to pass the general assembly I believe.

[smc331]

Outstanding! Makes me prouder than ever to be a Virginian.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opini ... z0j8ygCZRs

Is the Va. attorney general wasting tax money on Obamacare lawsuit? No.
By: Mark Hemingway
Commentary Staff Writer
03/24/10 1:09 PM EDT

Democrats assailed Virginia attorney general for filing suit to stop Obamacare. In response to their claims that Ken Cucinelli was wasting money on the suit, his communications director just sent out the following press release:

Reporters,

I've been seeing lots of headlines, Democrat press releases about how much money the Attorney General's office is spending on this lawsuit, and how outraged Democrats are that Attorney General Cuccinelli is "wasting" our hard earned tax dollars.

Some numbers to consider:

• ObamaCare's cost to Virginia over next 12 years: $1.1 billion

• Cost of Virginia's lawsuit to stop ObamaCare: $350.
No paid outside counsel, no witnesses, no depositions. Just the filing fee.

ObamaCare: Roughly 3 percent of the state's annual budget.

Lawsuit to stop ObamaCare: Roughly one 64 GB iPod touch.

Next argument, please.

Well, that's pithy.

(Some good comments, too).

[TheGodfather]

Fellow Americans,

On Tuesday, March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law a healthcare bill of historic proportions. That bill includes an individual mandate on Americans that declares that they must buy health insurance or face penalties. This overreaches the authority of Congress under the Commerce Clause and is therefore unconstitutional.

Buying health insurance can be said to be an act in commerce. However, if someone doesn't buy insurance, they are by definition not engaging in commerce. This legislation greatly oversteps the Commerce Clause.

Please join in Virginia's fight to overturn the individual mandate on health insurance. I ask that you indicate your support by signing the petition below. Please also forward this to your friends.

Sincerely,

Ken Cuccinelli

Attorney General of Virginia

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopthemandate/