Attorneys General Threaten Lawsuit over Federal Health Care Bill

Attorneys General from 13 states, including Pennsylvania’s Tom Corbett, have threatened a lawsuit over pending health care legislation. (HT Tony Phyrillas) The AGs note that the bill would mandate new Medicaid costs for many states (including an estimated $1.5 billion from Pennsylvania) while other states – specifically Nebraska – would receive a special exemption from these costs.

Of course, some have dismissed the Attorneys General threat:

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said the letter was a political ploy.

“This threat stinks of partisan politics,” he said in a statement. “If Henry McMaster wants to write federal law he should run for Congress not governor.”

Clyburn’s comment deserves especial ridicule. First, the entire health care bill is a political ploy. Second, the ideas that a state attorney general – or even a candidate for governor – should not care if the health care bill is constitutional, or if it mandates costs for his state while exempting another