McKenna, Gregoire clash over health care law

McKenna, Gregoire clash over health care law

docpatientWashington’s governor, Chris Gregoire, and state Attorney General Rob McKenna, who is widely viewed as a gubernatorial contender in 2012,  are clashing over the newly passed federal health care legislation.

McKenna plans to join a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of President Obama’s signature legislative achievement.  Gregoire, an ally of the president’s and sometimes mentioned as a future Cabinet pick, says McKenna “doesn’t represent the people of Washington” on this and doesn’t have her blessings to file in the name of the state.

Democrat Gregoire was Republican McKenna’s predecessor as three-term attorney general and the two have gotten along famously for most of the past six years. The other day they linked arms to help kick off a campaign for a constituti0nal amendment for bail reform in the wake of the Lakewood police slayings.   But on the question of using Washington’s name to challenge the federal health care bill, they’re miles apart.  The governor says McKenna didn’t consult with her, that she opposes his lawsuit, and will fight him on it.  McKenna, a separately elected official and the state’s chief lawyer,  says it’s his call, and that he wants to protect Washingtonians from unconstitutional provisions of the new bill.

It would appear that taxpayers will be tapped to pay for lawyers to argue both sides of this litigation.  That’s not without precedent, but pretty unusual.

7 thoughts on “McKenna, Gregoire clash over health care law

  1. While I understand that, under normal political circumstahces, sitting Washington state attorneys-general have, in recent times, been catapaulted to both national prominence and higher political office by their high-profile litigation on a powerful public policy issue of the day, from drug pricing to tobacco policy, given our state’s current economic downturn crisis, this is just really not the time for separating yourself from the gubernatorial campaign pack by prosecuting an issue involving questions of states’ rights clearly settled as long ago as the American Civil War. If timing is everything in politics, as in comedy, this is really extraordinarily bad timing, Mr. Attorney-General–especially if your whole constitutional law legal exercise comes to naught. On the other hand, if any sitting U.S. Supreme Court in recent memory could be said to be predisposed toward such so-called ultra-conservative constitutional arguments, our current court would be it; so who knows, Mr. Attorney-general, maybe you come out of this roll of the political campaign dice smelling like a governor.

  2. I’m glad Mr McKenna is standing up against the illegal acts that have taken place called “health care reform”. I’d much rather pay the lawyers now than pay the unbearable burden that we all face in the coming months / years. I would NEVER vote for socialism but that’s what our “leaders” have done. Let’s get this thing repealed before it costs us any more money and division of our nation than it already has. By the way Ms Gregoire, you are 100% wrong on this issue so instead of fighting with Mr McKenna, you should be backing him and thanking him for trying to stop the ruin of what once was our great nation, hopefully then, we can get the USA back within the next couple of years!

  3. I see the health care reform bill as a very bad thing.
    First, it’s the first time we have been ordered to purchase a product / service by the federal government. This mandate is the first step in a series of steps which will impose more mandated purchases imposed upon us by the fed. I hope people wake up and see this for what it is.
    Second, this push by the governor is wrong and I suspect her affiliation with the current federal administration is her agenda, not Washington state.
    This is evident by her stance against the sovereignty of our state.
    Back when she ran for governor the election seemed fishy and I believe if the vote for governor was today she would not be the governor, This push for socialism is all around us with the federal government having a hand is almost every facet of our lives.
    The one area it’s doesn’t totally control is food and by the push of media attention this is the next phase. Controlling what we can eat by taxation or mandatory payments which on the surface seem to benefit all, But the truth be told will only benefit the few at the top…AS USUAL….
    We need to hold our representatives accountable for all their actions. It’s time to take back our state from all the federal mandates which control Washington state citizens.

    If we do nothing and let them do as they will, we will all be known as the united federal government instead of united states.

  4. Jim E,

    The Federal Government is overstepping boundary’s within the 10th amendment protecting State rights. Can you name a product that we are commanded to purchase by the Fed. gov from a private company? It will be difficult to transform King County away from welfare state mentality and back to work for what you have with a compassionate tone.

    BTW I am a health care provider who takes 30% of my time and helps kids who have limited access to care….. by my choice.

    What happened to prescription reform and tort as in other European countries?

    Throw out all insiders.

    Washington Native.

  5. The health care reform only affects those without it. There is nothing revolutionary in it, but to challenge the constitutionality of it is a complete disgrace.

  6. Washington – Citizen (tax payer) Leslie W. issues the following statement today regarding news of Washington state’s Attorney General Rob McKenna’s decision to file a lawsuit against the health care reform law passed by Congress:

    I’m disappointed that the Gov. Chris Gregoire would participate and support trumping the will of the people and the laws set forth from the Constitution that would cripple individual freedom and choices and fracture the jobs of 1.5 million Washingtonians through the cloak of ‘helping’ us poor, helpless people.

    I completely disagree with the Gov. Chris Gregoire’s decision to support the Health Care Bill and she does not represent me.

    I will stand with Attorney General Rob McKenna and I will actively oppose Gregoire!

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