Governor Requests Attorney General Join Colleagues in Reviewing Constitutionality of Federal Health Care Bill
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 |
Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774
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“The leadership of Congress, particularly Senate leadership, understands the financial devastation that is looming for states, which is clearly evidenced by the special deals that have been cut for states that have Democratic Senators with wavering support of the reform,” Governor Perdue wrote to Attorney General Baker. “In order to calm the concerns, Senate leadership has granted special exemptions with additional federal dollars to cover the substantial increases in Medicaid costs for a few states while leaving the rest of us to foot the entire bill.”
The special treatment that Senators have won for their states will cost the country’s taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, in addition to the billions in state costs that will skyrocket under this bill.
The full text of Governor Perdue’s letter to Attorney General Baker is below:
The Honorable Thurbert Baker
Attorney General of
Dear Attorney General Baker:
RE: H.R. 3590 - “Health Care Reform”
The debate over healthcare policy in
The leadership of Congress, particularly Senate leadership, understands the financial devastation that is looming for states, which is clearly evidenced by the special deals that have been cut for states that have Democratic Senators with wavering support of the reform. In order to calm the concerns, Senate leadership has granted special exemptions with additional federal dollars to cover the substantial increases in Medicaid costs for a few states while leaving the rest of us to foot the entire bill. Senator Reid’s recent compromise to obtain the support of Senator Ben Nelson of
Yesterday, seven Attorneys General from across the country confirmed that they are looking at the constitutionality of these special deals. As I have considerable concerns over the constitutionality of these recent actions, I respectfully request that you join your colleagues from Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas and Washington state in investigating the constitutionality of these special exemptions in the health care legislation and explore the availability of any legal challenges that Georgia could pursue to oppose this unconscionable scenario.
Congress appears to be on the cusp of making a decision that will have ripple effects for decades to come. Now is the time to ensure that any decision that is made has been thoroughly vetted and deemed to meet the intent and spirit of our country’s Constitution.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely
Governor Sonny Perdue
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