Bad day for the Republican Party of Texas: They’re having to shift into high dudgeon over the passage of the federal health care bill. Oh, well, anything to distract from the fact that, in this Republican-run state, 26.9% of residents are uninsured.
Gov. Rick Perry wrote that he was “[exploring] the state’s options, including legal action, to challenge the constitutionality of this national health care bill.” Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called its passage “a slap in the face of the clear majority of Texans.” It must be tough, knowing that they couldn’t derail one of the core policies that got President Barack Obama elected, so the claim is that they’re really defending the Constitution.
To that end, Attorney General Greg Abbott is part of a suit filed in Florida based on the idea that the bill violates the Commerce Clause and the “fundamental principles of nondiscrimination that are at the heart of the U.S. Constitution.” The Texas Conservative Coalition has issued a letter supporting his move. “By challenging the constitutionality of the legislation,” they gush, “you offer fresh hope that Texans can be protected from this damaging legislation and that the framework of the US Constitution may be restored.”
Of course, the Democrats are firing back on the suit. Democratic National Committee Regional Press Secretary Ricardo A. Ramírez wrote a lengthy rebuttal of the basis for the case. If the GOP opposes health care reform, he said, “that’s their choice to make but they’ll find they’re on the wrong side of the American people.” DNC Chair Tim Kaine followed that meme when he joked in Georgia on Monday, “‘Bring back pre-existing conditions’ is one helluva bumper sticker.” Attorney general candidate Barbara Ann Radnofsky put it bluntly when she wrote, “Abbott today sued to block 4.3 million Texans from receiving health care insurance.”
Even the Libertarian Party of Texas has weighed in. Obviously, they savage “the audacity of the Democrats to pass an unconstitutional healthcare reform law.” However, LPT Chair Pat Dixon said that audacity “is only matched by the Republicans’ recent posturing as anti-government crusaders.”
It will be particularly hard for Republicans to claim the Constitutional high ground with reality-challenged Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert proposing the removal of the right of citizens to vote for their U.S. Senators. Yes, Gohmert wants that power handed back to the state legislatures.
So, in one busy day the leading lights of the Texas GOP have proved that they oppose people having access to affordable health insurance, are very selective on which bits of the Constitution they like, don’t trust the democratic process, and are quite happy to engage in a frivolous lawsuit to get their way.
This article appears in March 19 • 2010.
