Legal Commentary

John C. Calhoun Lives! Pawlenty Threatens Nullification Of HCR

By Big Tent Democrat

Tim Pawlenty looks like he is going to run for the Republican nomination for President. He is threatening nullification of health care reform:

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a possible presidential candidate in 2012, is now indicating that he could invoke state sovereignty and prevent his home state of Minnesota from participating in a federal health care reform effort if one passes, Minnesota Public Radio reports.

"Depending on what the federal government comes out with here, asserting the 10th Amendment may be a viable option," Pawlenty said, when asked about it by a caller on a Republican Governors Association conference call. "But we don't know the details. As one of the other callers said, we can't get the President to outline what he does or doesn't support in any detail. So we'll have to see, I would have to say that it's a possibility."

Pawlenty does not need to wait for a health care reform bill to test nullification. He can have Minnesota try and opt out of Medicare and Medicaid. I wonder if Texas Governor Rick Perry will top Pawlenty and try it. BTW, this is insane of course. The Party of Lincoln indeed.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 11, 2009 (boomark / email).