Bill McCollum is a former member of Congress; and was the Florida Attorney General who developed the lawsuit ruled upon by Judge Vinson earlier today.
McCollum thinks Obamacare is going to be overturned by the Supreme Court. And he cautions Republicans in Washington:
"(M)y hope is the Republicans and those trying to repeal this law don’t give in too much to the Obama administration,” McCollum told Newsmax.TV. “Because I personally think that it will be held unconstitutional, and they can start from scratch. So they have all the leverage, and shouldn’t be giving anything up or away at this point.”
...McCollum said congressional Republicans should stand firm because if healthcare reform is declared unconstitutional “they can start from scratch. So they have all the leverage, and shouldn’t be giving anything up or away at this point,” he told Newsmax.
Given the nature of some of the Republicans we have in Washington, we need to be concerned that some of them will try to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by compromising on certain aspects of Obamacare; and by assisting Democrats in their effort to "tweak" and improve it.
Obamacare defused of some of its most objectionable provisions would undoubtedly be more palatable to the American people. But it would still contain more than 1000 pages of liberty-stealing provisions we would live to regret.
Addendum: Sam has more.
This is going to be a close case with the final decision having a greater effect on the future AND past of the United States than any case since the New Deal.
If Obamacare stands, then the federal government can effectively do anything it wants to and we might as well eliminate the concept of states.
If Obamacare fails, then it is possible that quite a bit of existing legislation in a whole host of areas are subject to legal challenge.
This isn't just about Obama winning or losing, or health care. It is about the very core of our federalist system.
Posted by: Spag | January 31, 2011 at 11:15 PM
I agree, Sam. I was hoping that Judge Vinson would rule in favor of the plaintiffs on the matter of state sovereignty; but I suppose there has been so much legal precedent that supports the undermining of the federalist system over the last 50-100 years that he could not see his way clear to do so.
I hope the GOP in Washington does not blow it. If it does, it risks shooting itself in the foot with implications for many years.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | February 01, 2011 at 07:01 AM
With a Supreme Court decision that will be years away there will be a lot of time for ObamaCare to evolve.
Time is not on the side of federalism.
Additionally, this sounds like a call for congress to sit tight. Not likely.
Posted by: polifrog | February 01, 2011 at 09:10 AM
Unfortunately, I agree, Poli. Some of the dupes the GOP has in Congress will be more than eager to change Obamacare to make it seemingly more acceptable, thereby making it less likely it will be repealed in the long run. Much rides on the Supreme Court. There are still only very narrow circumstances under which the entirety of Obamacare would be defeated.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | February 01, 2011 at 09:53 AM