Contend they can't be forced to buy insurance, pay for abortions
Four Michigan residents who object to the government forcing them to purchase health-care insurance and pay for abortions have joined in a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the health-care reform bill President Obama signed into law yesterday.
The Michigan-based non-profit Thomas More Law Center and attorney David Yerushalmi filed the suit in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, seeking to permanently stop enforcement of the new legislation.
"This act is a product of political corruption and the exercise of unconstitutional power. Our Founding Fathers envisioned a limited form of government," said Richard Thompson, Thomas More's president and chief counsel. "The purpose of our Constitution and this lawsuit is to insure it stays that way."
None of the four Michigan plaintiffs have private health care insurance, and they assert supporting abortion is contrary to their religious beliefs.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are President Obama, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
Thompson argued that if Congress has the power to "force individuals to purchase health insurance coverage or pay a federal penalty merely because they live in America, then it has the unconstrained power to mandate that every American family buy a General Motors vehicle to help the economy or pay a federal penalty."
Robert Muise, Thomas More's senior trial counsel, and Yerushalmi prepared the lawsuit.
The complaint asserts the health-care reform law imposes unprecedented governmental mandates that trample on the personal and economic freedoms of Americans in violation of their constitutional rights.
It also alleges Congress had no authority under the Commerce Clause to pass the law and that by usurping the power reserved for the states and the people, Congress violated the Tenth Amendment.
The lawsuit also contends that by forcing private citizens to fund abortion, contrary to their rights of conscience and the free exercise of religion, Congress violated the First Amendment.
Thompson acknowledged Americans agree the health care system needs reform, but "they don't want a federal takeover of the system in the process. And they don't want reform by trampling on our Constitution."
Source: WorldNetDaily
Publish Date: March 23, 2010
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