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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Hoyer 100% WRONG on 'General Welfare' Clause

In the hoop-la over the current healthcare debate in Congress, House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer claims that the Constitution gives Congress the power to mandate that all Americans purchase health insurance under the 'General Welfare' clause.

Bull.

Hoyer, as usual, is 100% WRONG.

Here is the truth about the General Welfare clause:

The Truth is that Congress is NOT authorized to pass laws just because a majority in Congress say the laws promote the “general welfare”! As shown below, James Madison, Father of The Constitution, and Alexander Hamilton, author of most of The Federalist Papers, expressly said The Constitution does not give a general grant of legislative authority to Congress! Rather, ours is a Constitution of enumerated powers only. If a power isn’t specifically granted to Congress in The Constitution, Congress doesn’t have the power. It really is that easy - and our beloved Madison and Hamilton prove it.

Read the whole thing here.

3 comments:

Charlie said...

Additionally, Madison & Jefferson offered similar viewpoints when asked about the role of the "general welfare" clause:

http://thadcook.blogspot.com/2009/09/about-general-welfare-clause.html

(contains more quotes from the Framers, as well as an early & correct interpretation by SCOTUS)

Welshman said...

Thanks for adding to the info, Charlie!

Charlie said...

No problem. I set up that blog & post last month because I got tired of trying to explain to people that "general welfare" doesn't give Congress a blank check to do whatever they think is in "our best interests."

Now I can point to this post too!