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Posted on 12/23/2009 12:13:54 PM PST by reaganaut1
At least 10 states are now raising questions about the legality of the deal that Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat, cut for his home state of Nebraska during the health care negotiations.
Under the agreement, which is on the verge of being approved Thursday by the Senate, Nebraska is permanently exempt from paying for its expansion of Medicaid, shoving that cost onto taxpayers in every other state.
Mr. Nelson was able to exercise such leverage because in exchange, he was providing the magical 60th vote that Democrats needed to advance their health care bill.
The deal has enraged other Senators, especially those from red states, whose Republican Senators didn’t bring home any pork at all because they were not part of the negotiations with Democratic leaders. Several other Democratic Senators did get concessions for their states, but no deal has hit the nerve struck by Mr. Nelson’s.
Attorneys general in at least 10 states held a conference call late Tuesday to consider how they might challenge the deal, which they call federally subsidized vote-buying.
Some say it is certainly unfair and may be unconstitutional.
Troy King, the attorney general in Alabama, told MSNBC on Wednesday that the Constitution was not written to allow “the subsidization of a backroom deal.”
The Constitution, he said, was written to protect citizens from arbitrary and capricious decisions by Congress, not “for Congress to force Alabama to subsidize vote-buying.”
...
Could the growing backlash threaten passage of the health care bill? Mr. Nelson has said that he would vote for the bill only if nothing in it were changed. That makes it seem unlikely that Democratic leaders would try to undo the bill before the Thursday vote because doing so could threaten final passage.
(Excerpt) Read more at prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com ...
I’m sure he knows it’ll be knocked down in the Supreme Court, but he’ll brag he got it put in for NE anyhow.
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If he did that, it would be truly idiotic. He’ll do it.
[Yep, even Nelson can vote “no” now and try to salvage himself with enraged Nebraskans.]
Nelson is done. He will never be re-elected. If this provision is taken out and then then changes his vote to no, he will not only look corrupt but incompetent and foolish. People will not forget that he is the one who moved this bill on for final passage.
In the perverted minds of the liberal socialists, “some states are more equal than others.”
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It’s the “more equal” doctrine...lol...
I wonder if it would be possible to ask Supreme Court to look at this immediately (just like they looked at 2000 FL election chaos immediately).
It would be nice if Supreme Court, in an emergency session, declared this unconstitutional (naturally, by 5-4 margin). At least that might allow Nelson to back down and oppose the deal and save the country.
Anyway, given the tactical and strategic competence of GOP, there is zero chance of GOP pushing that option. (Dems would certainly do that, if not for other reason then at least to make it as uncomfortable to the other party as possible).
(The irony of which Senator Nelson will be able to contemplate in his retirement)
It doesn’t matter if it is unconstitutional anymore. “Our” congress is sort of “Christmas/Easter” constitutionalists. They only bring it out for show, and then just do whatever the h#11 they want.
Yuk! Yuk! We have two choices for Gov. in Texas. Rick Perry who sucks sucks and Kay who sucks sucks sucks. The choice is between a t*rd sandwich and a d*uche bag....
Nebraska
Average Listing Price: $148,323
Average Days On Market: 222
Active Listings: 11,841
Median Listing Price: $103,950
Average Sale Price: $155,312
Average Estimate: $153,363
http://www.realtor.com/homevalues/#NEXHASHlat=41.43449030894921&lon=-99.613037109375&zoom=8
1,464 foreclosures
see realtytrac.com for details
Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.
They should also be questioning the other Nelson deal. Nelson of Florida.
They only need 51 senators to pass it now.
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If you’re talking about the nuclear option, they’d really have to change this bill to do that. Then it may not make the stupid SOTU deadline...and it may not work...but they may try it anyhow...wouldn’t put ANYTHING past these criminals/traitors.
Where, oh where are people that love our Constitution...it’s do or DIE time...it’s coming down to that.
After the bill comes out of conference, they still need 60 votes to close debate.
Maybe the SCOTUS will get a chance to rule on this. It would be nice if they finally decided to reign in the power of the feds, and go back to original intent/states rights. Not holding my breath, but maybe the majority would realize how far down the slippery slope we’ve gone and realize Venezuela may be in our future.
Debra Medina is a my choice.
Big payoffs to senators on health bill stoke public anger
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413698/posts
“we’re comin’ and we’re bringin hell with us”.
I didn't realize we were that close to falling off the cliff. I thought it was still 60. This is so depressing.
If this weren't leading to what will likely be very unpleasant circumstances, it would be laughable.
IMHO all who vote yes for this unconstitutional bill should be tried for treason!
Well it is how the NY Times views this country now..blue and red.
Can’t WAIT for the civil war. How quick it will be!
Maybe we can get some teeth back in the 10th amendment??
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