Posted on 12/22/2009 10:33:30 PM PST by tcrlaf
Senate Democrats have been defending a deal they cut with Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., to gain his vote for their health care bill. The provision calls for the federal government to fund the entire cost of expanding Medicaid in his state. Senate Republicans have slammed the provision as unfair because other states, including Texas, would have to shoulder part of the cost of expanding Medicaid to cover millions of uninsured people.
Now Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, joined by Republican AGs in six other states, is questioning whether such a deal is constitutional. In a statement released late Tuesday, Abbott said the group would explore "all available avenues to challenge and overturn this legally problematic provision."
Jerry Strickland, an Abbott spokesman, said the group is in the beginning stages of evaluating how to proceed. Strickland said he was unable to explain why Abbott thinks the deal may be unconstitutional. "This is a review to determine whether it's unconstitutional and whether there is any recourse that Texas can take," Strickland said.
Read on for Abbott's full statement.
"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. In light of this unprecedented and highly questionable backroom deal, Texas will join South Carolina and other states in an effort to thoroughly review the constitutionality and legality of the Nebraska Compromise.
Because it disadvantages Texas taxpayers, the Texas Attorney General's Office will explore all available avenues to challenge and overturn this legally problematic provision. Our democratic system of government depends upon transparency and openness--this backroom deal goes too far and must be challenged because Texas deserves better."
(Excerpt) Read more at trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com ...
Billions and Billions in taxpayer funded bribes to Democrats. And they aren't even bothering to hide the corruption, anymore.
Yet, the evening News Networks barely mention the corruption. How damn in the tank do you have to be to not see it.??
Kudos Greg..
Alright! Don’t mess with Texas.
About time! If Texas does not challenge this asinine bill, who will? Come on Texas - get into the action!
This is a promising development. In a related note, the state AG mentioned in the article may run for the Seante if Kay Baily Hutchison resigns.
I will follow this story with a great deal of intrest.
Good news.
Ben stealing the money to pay for murder by Resident Obortion.
“Nebraska Compromise” ROTFLMAO
If the crime of bribery still exists, that also should be charged against the democratic leadership of the house.
Unless somewhere in the Constitution there is an exception for members of Congress.
God bless Texas....
........ and the rest that are fighting this attempt to destroy our country.
By the terms of its admission, Texas has the right to withdraw from the Union. Maybe they should start thinking about that as Plan B.
One of my biggest regrets is that I was not born a Texan. The more I read, the more I see, the more I like.
I love Greg Abbott’s turn of phrase.
Hey, Texas, MOVE all your Medicaid folks to Nebraska. Moving trucks have to be cheaper than funding your state and theirs, so just round em up and move em in.
Heh, well, we are not Florida...and our Texas retirees are not about to move to Nebraska (Love Texas and all). That said, it would provide a problem for Nelson that I would not mind seeing happen...heh...
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