New promise: Lawsuits to challenge 'Obamacare'

From WorldNetDaily

Social program called 'power grab that rewrites American history' By Bob Unruh Posted: December 25, 2009 ~ 12:10 am Eastern © 2009 WorldNetDaily Obamacare, as critics have dubbed the president's plan to socialize health care, will be flooded with lawsuits if it ever becomes law, according to an organization that works to protect rights and liberties of Americans. In an alert issued this week, Liberty Counsel, run by President Mathew Staver, promised his organization "is prepared to challenge the constitutionality of the bill since Congress has no authority to require every person to obtain insurance coverage and has no authority to fine employers who do not provide the coverage standards that are required in the bill." "In addition," he warned, "the bill still requires citizens to pay a fine if they don't maintain insurance for themselves and their families." The promise came just before the U.S. Senate approved its version of the health-care reform plan. The House has adopted a version that must be reconciled with the Senate's before moving to the president's desk. Among major sticking points are a government-run "option," as well as abortion funding, which has drawn strong opposition from the public. But like demanding that everyone drive a blue car or watch a specific television network, the concept of mandatory health insurance set by the government just doesn't appear in the U.S. Constitution, Staver argues. He told WND that if the plan gets to the point of being signed into law by Obama, "We will sue." He said Liberty University will be a plaintiff along with other groups or individuals. "The thrust is that Congress lacks the power to force health care coverage on individuals," he said. "It lacks the power to fine employers that do not have or provide health care coverage according to the mandates of the bill." He said Liberty University, like many businesses, has a brief waiting period for new employees before its health insurance coverage applies. Because of that, the educational institution would face a fine of $600 per employee under the new law. Also, the health care plan pending in Congress "exempts certain religions but not others," Staver noted. Congress, he said, cannot simply regulate anything it wants. Instead, Congress' authority has limits, such as taxing and spending and commerce. "They're going to have a hard time proving that this affects interstate commerce, individuals who don't want insurance coverage," Staver said. The problem, however, is bigger than just the health-care plan. "It is scary. This Congress will do just whatever it wants to do, notwithstanding the law or the will of the American people," he said. For that reason, he said, the imposition of such health-care provisions must be challenged. "It's a political power grab that rewrites American history," he said. READ FULL STORY >