Friday, July 20, 2012

GOP resolution: Healthcare law violates Constitution for not originating in the House

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and 10 other House Republicans introduced a resolution Thursday arguing that the 2010 healthcare law violates the Constitution because it is a revenue measure that did not originate in the House. - The Hill

The resolution, H.Res. 735, plays off the June 28 Supreme Court ruling that said the individual mandate to by health insurance cannot be justified under the Commerce Clause, but is "within Congress's power to tax."

But if the law is a revenue measure, the resolution finds, it is one that violates Article I, Section 7, Clause 1 of the Constitution. That clause states simply, "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives."