Pawlenty: state sovereignty to fight health care reform 'a possibility'

Source: Minnesota Public Radio

Pawlenty: state sovereignty to fight health care reform 'a possibility'
by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio
September 11, 2009

St. Paul, Minn. — Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he may invoke state sovereignty to keep Minnesota from fully participating in a health care reform plan, if passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama.

In a Thursday night conference call hosted by the Republican Governor's Association, Pawlenty was asked whether he would invoke state's rights if a health care bill is passed. He said it's possible.

"Depending on what the federal government comes out with here, asserting the 10th Amendment may be a viable option," Pawlenty said. "But we don't know the details. As one of the other callers said, we can't get the President to outline what he does or doesn't support in any detail. So we'll have to see, I would have to say that it's a possibility."

Pawlenty, who is considered a potential candidate for President in 2012, also said he and other Republican governors will get more assertive about raising the 10th Amendment.

Read more: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/11/pawlenty-tenth-amendment/

That these asshat Repukes had no problem with the Patriot Act violating the US Constitution, but now scream the 10th Amendment when the Democrats are in control.

Besides, Lincoln pretty much shot down the 10th Amendment concept with the Civil War.

If Minnesota opts out, I imagine Insurance Companies may also opt out.

That's not just stupid, that's REPUBLICAN stupid.......

I imagine Timmy has been in touch with Stephen Hemsley, the CEO and is following orders. I'm sure UHG likes the mandates, it's those pesky clauses about insuring those with preexisting conditions or even the faux public option that's upsetting them.

One of the DFL contenders for governor, John Marty, is committed to developing a single payer system in Minnesota as it certainly looks like Congress can't be bothered to do so. Unfortunately, whether or not states will be able to develop their own plans will depend on whether or not there is a clause in any "reform" passed that will allow them to do so.

Republics really ARE the dumbest MFers on the planet, aren't they.

MN. went for Obama.

again in his own state. The rest of you can just set back and watch.

He really is a delusional little dictator. I can't wait until he's gone.

He also claimed dictatorial powers to cut the budget. This man is a criminal.

I think he has the best chance of any of the frequently mentioned contenders to give Obama a run for his money. He has appeal to moderate Republicans amd independents and now he's parroting the right wing party line to gain appeal from the Freeper crowd as well.

The thing he had going for him was his facade that he was a happy smiling moderate. He's blown that all to hell.

He's not popular in Minnesota and the bridge collapse that happened on his watch after he vetoed highway bill after highway bill is sure to be a big hit in the campaign.

He's boring and gets rattled when people have the audacity to challenge him.

Nope, the mask has been completely lifted from this little fool.

But go on and make your party even more irrelevent. I didn't think repigs could be more irrelevent.

Cripes, they suprise me daily.

are they just throwing red meat for their base?

If there was a way to give him what he asks for...I would like think the voters would impeach him....

Buyer beware big time on this guy. He would be as bad as Bush.

These morans will figure out quick who the real majority is.

bid. What a fool.

What an asshole.

Now invoke the 10th Amendment to get Medicare out of Minnesota.
That'll be popular!

GOP Primary, so he has to get as far right as he can on so many things to get those votes.

But that would be in keeping with his little dictator role he likes to play. He runs Minnesota like it is a far right state even though he has never won an election with even 50% of the vote.

Why oh why didn't he just pull a Sarah Palin?

Joe Wilson and AHIP Team Up to Write Max Baucus’s Health Care Bill
By: Jane Hamsher

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/11/joe-wilson-and-ahip-team-up-to-write-max-baucuss-health-care-bill/

Friday September 11, 2009 7:06 am


There really doesn't seem to be any limit to what the administration will do to pass Rahm Emanuel's neoliberal giveaway to the insurance industry. The "author" of the plan released by Baucus (and apparently by Mike Ross) is a former VP of Wellpoint. Now AHIP is boasting about their role in crafting it:

Many of the changes to the insurance system now under discussion are the ones that have been advocated this year by the insurance companies themselves, said Karen M. Ignagni, the chief executive of America's Health Insurance Plans, the industry trade group. "The industry has been the leader in creating the proposals everyone is about to endorse," she said.

No wonder insurance company stocks shot up after the President's speech.

But now we find, per John Aravosis, that Kent Conrad and Max Baucus are changing their bill to appease Joe Wilson:

"We really thought we'd resolved this question of people who are here illegally, but as we reflected on the President's speech last night we wanted to go back and drill down again," said Senator Kent Conrad, one of the Democrats in the talks after a meeting Thursday morning. Baucus later that afternoon said the group would put in a proof of citizenship requirement to participate in the new health exchange — a move likely to inflame the left.

As John says, if Wilson's outburst turns out to be successful, it'll keep happening over and over again. And it will work every time.

If you want to stop this travesty from going forward -- and it's turning into a complete travesty -- ask these members of Congress from strong Democratic districts, all of whom have cosponsored Single Payer in the past and know better, why they aren't pledging to vote against any bill if it turns out to be nothing more than an insurance industry bailout:

read the rest at the link..........

After the folks in Minnesota tar and feather him and run him out of the state, we'll let them in on the public option.

you go, Tim

IMPEACH THIS FUCKER!!!

And if Timmy the Tool even thinks about taking away my "evil socialist" state medical coverage for the disabled I will kick his ass! :grr: