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| Sen. Burris Cites Unwritten Constitutional 'Health' Provision to Justify Forcing Americans to Buy Health Insurance |
| 2009-11-06 |
| (CNSNews.com) - When asked by CNSNews.com what specific part of the Constitution authorizes Congress to mandate that individuals must purchase health insurance, Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) pointed to the part of the Constitution that he says authorizes the federal government "to provide for the health, welfare and the defense of the country." In fact, the word "health" appears nowhere in the Constitution. "Well, that's under certainly the laws of the--protect the health, welfare of the country," said Burris. "That's under the Constitution. We're not even dealing with any constitutionality here. Should we move in that direction? What does the Constitution say? To provide for the health, welfare and the defense of the country." James O'Connor, Burris's communications director, later told CNSNews.com that although the word "health" does not appear anywhere in the Constitution, the senator was referring to the Preamble of the Constitution which says the following: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Raymond Burris: Illinois' answer to YJCMTSU..... |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2009-11-06 12:29 |
| #4 Our country's in the very best of hands. |
| Posted by: Black Bart Ebberens7700 2009-11-06 10:24 |
| #3 The Interstate Commerce Clause (article 1 section 8, 3rd clause) of the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court gives the Federal Govt enormous power. A few years ago, The SCOTUS found that the federal law against marijuana was applicable to a woman in California who grew her own marijuana in her own house. It was a 9-0 decision. If that case comes under federal jurisdiction via the IC clause, well then it is hard to know where it stops. |
| Posted by: lord garth 2009-11-06 09:07 |
| #2 It's in the preamble. It's not in the Articles which are the basis of power and authorities of the branches. So, using his argument, why should Congress even bother, just let the Executive or Judiciary dictate it, since the preamble is not of any branch. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-11-06 07:23 |
| #1 ...Although Senator Burris has his head up his @ss, he makes a point I've been making for a couple years now: Congress will cite the 'general welfare' line of the Constitution to justify ramming health care down our throats. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2009-11-06 05:53 |