Florida Attorney General Questions Health Care Bill
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced over the holidays that his staff will be reviewing the legality of the federal health-care bill. McCollum, who is running for Governor, refers to the much-debated health-care bill as a “tax on living.” He questions a requirement in the bill that all citizens either obtain insurance or pay into a fund that would help cover their medical costs. Although some supporters of the bill have compared this requirement to situations such as requiring drivers to maintain auto insurance, McCollum disagrees. He argues that people may avoid the auto insurance mandate by choosing not to own a car. Citizens could not similarly avoid the health-care mandate by making lifestyle choices, leading to McCollum’s “tax on living” label.
McCollum reportedly is interested in the constitutionality of the health-care bill under the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The 10th Amendment provides that powers not granted to the federal government or prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people.