The Obama Administration

Obama the candidate told us we could see what his administration would be like by looking at the people he surrounds himself with.

It is plain to see he was truthful about that.

But, not much else.

Just one year since being elected Obama has visited twenty countries.  More than any other President at this time in office.

So, how can a President take so much time away?  How can a President be so detached from the business of governing?  Who is doing the work of the Executive branch?

Could it be the thirty-two Marxist czars he has surrounded himself with?  Could it be the President is merely the front man for certain Unions and Marxist-Socialist organizations?

Non sequitur

Feds move to seize 4 mosques, tower linked to Iran

This action is non sequitur given the recent news.  Shias are not perpetrating suicidal jihad.

First, we have a shooting at Fort Hood.  Next, we have our President showing up at an Indian affairs meeting where he gives an Oh, by the way.   There was a shooting.  Now, this.

What are we to think?  Does our government have their eye on the ball?

Lindsey Graham—Wrong as wrong can be

GOP's Graham steps out on a limb on climate change

"If I can create legislation that would allow this country to stop buying so much foreign oil and make us safer — plus find a solution to the carbon pollution hurting our planet — that would be a good use of my time, " Graham told McClatchy . "If that costs me my job, it would be well worth it."

The first part of Graham’s statement is fine.  The part about carbon—a reference to the farcical meme perpetrated by a small cadre of U.N. strap-hangers—is as wrong as wrong can be.

Graham added: "But I don't think it will cost me my job."

Don’t be so sure.

H. R. 3200 Unconstitutional

H. R. 3200 and similar legislation, if enacted into law, will very likely be declared unconstitutional. 

Simply stated, legislation of this type amounts to Congress establishing the Federal government as a national health insurance regulator; an authority nowhere granted to Congress by the Constitution.

That said, it does not mean Congress has no role to play in the current health insurance reform debate.

Currently, purchase of health insurance is subject to anti-competitive barriers erected by the several in states; such purchases being limited to those policies licensed within the purchaser’s state by that state’s insurance commissioner.  No other policy may be sold in any given state.

It is here that Congress has a role to play.  And, it is simple and straightforward:  The framers of the Constitution intended for Congress to eliminate trade barriers between the states when they wrote Article I, Section 8; the ‘commerce’ clause.  And, the restrictions on which policy may be sold in any given state meets that criteria.

So, Congress should scrap H. R. 3200 and instead enact legislation that will prevent states from using licensing laws as barrier to out-of-state insurers.  Simple, straightforward and, most importantly, constitutional.

Technorati Tags: H. R. 3200,  health insurance reform

Trackbacked to:  Rosemary's Thoughts,  Right Truth,  The World According to Carl,  Pink Flamingo

Update:   HR 3200 has been replaced by HR 3269 introduced 10/29/2009.  It is made of the same stuff as the former bill except it now consumes four reams of paper.