“Unconstitutional Federal Requirements Should Be Overturned”

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, released the following statement after Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna decided to join a multistate challenge to the constitutionality of the radical health care bill signed by President Obama today.

“I agree with Attorney General Rob McKenna that the requirement for people to buy health insurance is an ‘unprecedented federal mandate’ that violates the commerce clause and the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”

Under the controversial law, the Obama Administration will be hiring over 16,000 new I.R.S. agents to monitor people’s private health insurance.  Those who are convicted of willfully evading the insurance requirement can be fined up to $100,000 and imprisoned for five years.

“I voted against this $938 billion, 2,700-page bill for many reasons, and one of the most important reasons is that it will ‘erode the freedom of the American individual.’  I commend Attorney General McKenna for standing up for the citizens of Washington State who have the constitutional right to decide what is the best health care for themselves and their families.”