Sen. Merkley: Authority to Force People to Buy Health Insurance is Part of Congress's 'Very First Enumerated Power'

By Belisarius on November 16, 2009 11:29 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/56968

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D.-Ore.) says that Congress derived the constitutional authority to make Americans purchase health insurance as part of its "very first enumerated power." He was referring to the language at the beginning of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which says: "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States."

CNSNews.com asked Merkley: "Specifically where in the Constitution does Congress get its authority to mandate that individuals purchase health care?"

Merkley said: "The very first enumerated power gives the power to provide for the common defense and the general welfare. So it's right on, right on the front end."

Before CNSNews.com could ask a follow-up question, Merkley's press secretary pulled him away, apparently to attend an event.

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Belisarius

This is my place to vent a little and get things off my chest. I am a retired Marine who has interests in WMDs. Since WMD events are, thankfully, few in number, I spend a lot of time reading about people likely to use them. This takes me on some interesting tangents. I travel alot in my post retirement career and do not always have time to comment as I post articles. Give me a day or two to catch up if I skip comments, please.

Email: belisarius =at= politicalinsecurity =dot= com