Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Top SC prosecutor, others probing health care deal

From the AP:
The top prosecutors in seven states are probing the constitutionality of a political deal that cut a funding break for Nebraska in order to pass a federal health care reform bill, South Carolina's attorney general said Tuesday.

Attorney General Henry McMaster said he and his counterparts in Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, North Dakota, Texas and Washington state—all Republicans—are jointly taking a look at the deal they've dubbed the "Nebraska compromise."

"The Nebraska compromise, which permanently exempts Nebraska from paying Medicaid costs that Texas and all other 49 states must pay, may violate the United States Constitution—as well as other provisions of federal law," Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said.

McMaster's move comes at the request of Republican U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint of South Carolina...

Along with Texas, officials in Washington, Alabama, Colorado and Michigan confirmed they were working with McMaster.
Read the full article.

Hopefully, the prosecutors will also probe the constitutionality of a specific clause in the senate health care bill that barrs future Congresses from amending or repealing portions of the bill.

Good luck with the probing, gentlemen!