"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
We need healthcare reform.
But the way it was just passed is shameful.
Our President promised that the process would be out in the open... we all know it wasn't.
And, some elected officials voted on the bill without ever reading it.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted that publicly.
(Nancy Pelosi)
"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of controversy."
That is downright irresponsible.
And now… now that we're learning more about the legislation... we're starting to see it chips away at our rights as a state.
This new law FORCES citizens to purchase insurance or face penalties.
Is that constitutional?
What will be FORCED to buy next?
A certain kind of car?
A particular brand of food?
If you take this legislation to the next logical step, that notion is not so farfetched.
The Federal Government clearly feels because it can regulate commerce, it can regulate healthcare. But some Constitutional experts say this new healthcare law violates the 10th Amendment, which says powers not delegated to the federal government... are reserved to the states.
So far, 13 states have joined in on a suit to challenge the legislation.
South Carolina is one of them.
And for that, we applaud Attorney General Henry McMaster.
But we have learned that North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has decided NOT to join the law suit.
We're disappointed with his decision.
The bottom line is that this lawsuit isn't about healthcare – it's about a loss of states' rights - which is a loss for the rights of each person in that state.
Tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
