Worship on the Way Radio Network: KTLW 88.9 Lancaster, CA, WOTW 88.9 Monee, IL

Interstate Health Care?

House Democrats have finally presented their leadership’s health-care reform bill, H.R. 3962. It is nearly 2,000 pages long and sets up 111 new federal bureaucracies, boards, commissions and programs. Like the other “concepts” debated earlier in committees, it fails to explicitly exclude taxpayer funding for abortion and requires every American adult to buy health insurance or pay a penalty to the IRS.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was recently asked “Where specifically does the Constitution authorize Congress to force Americans to purchase a particular good or service, such as health insurance?” She had no answer but later her office said she believes that Congress derives the authority from its enumerated “constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce."

However, health insurance companies are not allowed to sell their products across state lines and participate in interstate commerce. So, should they be regulated by Congress or by the states in which they operate? This would open up a whole new line of competition, and probably make any taxpayer-funded "government option" unnecessary.

Other Commentaries:

• An Endangered Species?
• The 2010 Census
• Ethics and Economics
• Positive Public Policies needed for the New Year
• More Government In Our Lives?
• Rethinking Helth Care Reform
• Peace and Apartments for Jerusalem
• Islam Today
• Interstate Health Care?
• Congressional Cowards?
• Public Prayer Makes Atheists Sick?