Thursday, February 3, 2011

Is The Obama Administration Throwing Us Into a Constitutional Crisis Over Health Care?

President Barack ObamaAre we we experiencing a quiet constitutional crisis?

It’s well known that Judge Roger Vinson ruled yesterday that the individual mandate exceeded the powers of the federal government under the Commerce Clause. But he also ruled that because the law lacked a severability clause and the law’s proponents had argued that the individual mandate was a necessary part of the scheme, the entire law was invalid.

Wesley J. Smith explains the implications:

That means that under the ruling, the law is void and cannot be implemented from this point forward. The Administration’s legal remedy is to seek a stay of the ruling pending appeal. It cannot just defy a federal court ruling. If it tries, the plaintiffs should go to court for the injunction and/or seek an order of contempt against the administration. Pretending that the ruling doesn’t change anything when it unequivocally does, would be both a petulant and extra-legal approach to governance.

So has the Obama administration halted the implementation of the law? The answer is: No.

The website of the White House is unambiguous about this: “Implementation will continue.”

Vinson’s decision did not include an injunction to stop the implementation of health care reform on the grounds that an injunction would be superfluous. He argued that the government would stop implementing the law automatically once it was announced as unconstitutional.

That, apparently, hasn’t happened.

So here’s a question: should government officials mindful of the constitution start defying the Obama administration to honor the decision by the court? If, say, you were charged with monitoring the computers that send out rebate checks to seniors with high prescription drug costs, should you turn off the computer?

Much of this is probably theoretical. Most of the law did not yet apply, so implementation was minimal. But if you were working on implementing the law, shouldn’t you be obligated to stop work?

“Pencils down” as we used to say back when an M&A deal fell apart.

Source:  NetNet

Related:

Our Stubborn Constitution Versus Obamacare

Excerpt:

As the nation's biggest circuit, representing most of the western United States, it should come as no surprise that the 9th Circuit has more cases heard before the Supreme Court than any other jurisdiction -- in turn resulting in more reversals. But the latest string of rulings is unusual even for the 9th, which often is at odds with conservatives on the Supreme Court. The fact that the rulings were unanimous can be seen as a signal from on high that the circuit needs to get in line.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/02/hint-supreme-court-rejects-rulings-row-west-coast-bench/

· Take a Hint? Supreme Court Rejects 5 Rulings in a Row From West Coast Bench

Wednesday, February 02, 2011 7:38:18 PM · by Sub-Driver · 8 replies

FOX ^

Take a Hint? Supreme Court Rejects 5 Rulings in a Row From West Coast Bench By Judson Berger Published February 02, 2011 | FoxNews.com The Supreme Court may be sending a message to one of the country's most liberal appeals courts, unanimously overturning five consecutive cases out of the 9th Circuit in less than a week. As the nation's biggest circuit, representing most of the western United States, it should come as no surprise that the 9th Circuit has more cases heard before the Supreme Court than any other jurisdiction -- in turn resulting in more reversals. But the latest...

· Senate Rejects Full ObamaCare Repeal; Votes To Kill ‘1099’ Provision

Wednesday, February 02, 2011 7:01:00 PM · by Slyscribe · 55 replies

IBD's Capital Hill ^ | 2/2/2011 | Ed Carson

As expected, all 47 Senate Republicans voted Wednesday to repeal the sweeping health law, but no Democratic members joined them, leaving the GOP well short of the 60 needed to pass. But the bill, which easily cleared the GOP-led House last month, forced vulnerable Senate Dems to once again back the controversial legislation. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 81-17 to roll back the much-hated “1099” tax-reporting requirement. The obscure ObamaCare provision would have required companies, starting in 2012, to file a 1099 tax form every time they make cumulative purchases of $600 or more from any business.

· OBAMACARE: D.O.A.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011 4:02:31 PM · by Hojczyk · 19 replies

Dick Morris .com ^ | Feb. 1 ,2011 | Dick Morris

How did Obama ever think that his program would pass constitutional muster? How could he imagine that the Interstate Commerce clause could cover something that wasn’t interstate (health insurance cannot be sold over state lines) and wasn’t commerce (failure to buy insurance is not commerce) would stand up in court? He was so sure that he would win any constitutional challenge that he arrogantly failed to put a severability clause in the bill so that it would survive even if parts were stricken down. The decision of the Florida District Court may or may not prevail in the Circuit Court....

Florida Ruling Requires Government to Stop Implementing ObamaCare

Wisconsin Leads States in Declaring ObamaCare Dead

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