Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Chingyu Wang
Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) accused attorneys general who have filed suit against the "Patient Protection and Affordable Act" of treating sick Americans as second class citizens.

"The lawsuits remind me of the approach that was taken as the Civil Rights Movement was able to exercise its authority," said Lee. "State rights activists wanted to use the Commerce Clause then. African American were second class citizens. Now, sick Americans seem to be second class citizens. So I would say to them, shame on them...to use these kinds of tactics to marginalize and permanently declare there is a second class status for Americans who happen to sick," scolded Lee.

Lee took a swipe at Texas Attorney General (AG) Greg Abbott, one of 13 AG's across the U.S. that claim the new law is unconstitutional, accusing him of "seeking to circumvent Federal law because he is of the opposite political party."

The AG's are challenging that a provision within the law that requires individuals and businesses to purchase health insurance or else pay a fine violates the nation's 10th Amendment.

Lee, however, said "the Federal government has the authority to legislate a health insurance mandate under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution...Congress can avoid legal challenges related to the 10th Amendment and states' rights by pre-empting state insurance laws and implementing the mandate on a federal level."

"Why, when you have a bill that will provide 100% Medicaid reimbursement the first year, 95% the second year and 90% the third year, are you suggesting that your states will lose billions or millions of dollars?" Lee asked. "Why do you rebut and refute the opportunity for relief."