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| State AGs request Reid, Pelosi drop Nebraska Medicaid funds from health bill |
| 2009-12-31 |
| Attorneys General from 13 states penned the top two Democrats in Congress Wednesday requesting they remove extra Medicaid funds directed toward Nebraska. The attorneys general, all Republican, say that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tacked on extra Medicare funds to the Senate bill to buy the vote of holdout centrist Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) The state officials, led by South Carolina Attorney General, Henry McMaster, say that the provision is unconstitutional and ask that Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) remove it as to avoid a lawsuit. "We ask that Congress delete the Nebraska provision from the pending legislation, as we prefer to avoid litigation," they wrote. "Because this provision has serious implications for the country and the future of our nation's legislative process, we urge you to take appropriate steps to protect the Constitution and the rights of the citizens of our nation." Critics, who have dubbed the funds as the "Cornhusker Kickback" say that the $100 million deal is emblematic of Washington wheeling and dealing and that it is not fair to other states who have to use their own funds to pay for the Medicaid expansion included in the healthcare overhaul. The letter comes just weeks before the Senate and House will meet to merge their two healthcare reform bills. Nelson defended the deal on the Senate floor several weeks ago, saying that other states could have access to such federal funds. Critics disagree, claiming that Nelson received it exclusively in exchange for his vote. The 13 GOP attorneys general argue that the provision runs up against Supreme Court decisions banning the "display of arbitrary power" and violates other Constitutional protections. "The fundamental unfairness of H.R. 3590 may also give rise to claims under the due process, equal protection, privileges and immunities clauses and other provisions of the Constitution," they wrote. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 I wonder if this movement by AGs will go anywhere? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-12-31 12:18 |
| #1 The other 36 states, where are their AG's? Oh, only Republican AG's are speaking out. I get it. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-12-31 02:33 |