For the second time since the Democratic-controlled Congress passed a government takeover of health care a year ago, a federal judge has ruled it unconstitutional.
And this is even bigger than when Federal District Court Judge Henry Hudson of Virginia ruled the law unconstitutional back in December. At that time, Judge Hudson was ruling for one state, Virginia.
This time, Senior Federal Court Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling comes in response to 26 states (including Ohio) who through their Attorneys General have asked the court to declare the law unconstitutional. And he has done just that. And further, he has thrown out the entire law, not just a portion.
The basis of the ruling, once again, is that Congress, in passing the health care legislation, acted beyond its constitutional power, in that Congress has no right to order people to affirmatively purchase something (health care).
The case will go to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and then ultimately to the U.S. Supreme Court. I will once again predict that the Supreme Court will indeed strike down the health care law as unconstitutional, probably by a 5-4 vote, unless President Obama is able to appoint another liberal Justice to the court to replace one of the four conservatives or the one moderate (Justice Kennedy) on the court before a ruling comes down. Stay tuned.
On another front, the Middle East, especially Egypt, is experiencing unprecedented turmoil, which could have long-term repercussions, not only to the region, but to the rest of the world. As the new Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, I have submitted an op-ed with my thoughts to the Cincinnati Enquirer. I will forward an email with a link to the Enquirer op-ed when it is available online for those who may miss it in the paper.
See you next week.
