Lawrence Wasden
Attorneys general in 13 states, including Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, say congressional leaders must remove Nebraska’s political deal from the federal health care reform bill or face legal action.
Republican South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster and a dozen of his counterparts are sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid objecting to Nebraska getting a break on Medicaid payments.
McMaster said last week he was leading a charge to probe the constitutionality of the deal he dubbed the “Cornhusker Kickback.”
Republican U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint asked McMaster to look at the bill amended to win Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson’s support.
McMaster and several of the leaders supporting his effort are running for governor in their states.
Butch Otter
Meanwhile, Idaho Republican Governor Butch Otter is threatening to sue the Federal Government should the proposed health care reform plan become law as currently drafted.
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Otter wrote that the bill passed on a party line vote last week by the Senate is unconstitutional, expensive and inequitable to states that aren’t in-line to receive speical breaks.
Otter believes Congress is moving to sacrifice fiscal responsibility, sound judgment and constitutionality for political expediency. The governor described the measure as a crushing unfunded mandate on state and local governments and citizens. (AP) (Idaho Statesman)
