Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) explains where the Constitution empowers Congress to impose health insurance mandates:
“Well, that’s under certainly the laws of the–protect the health, welfare of the country,” said Burris. “That’s under the Constitution. We’re not even dealing with any constitutionality here. Should we move in that direction? What does the Constitution say? To provide for the health, welfare and the defense of the country.”
The actual Constitution reads a little bit differently than Burris seems to think:
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States . . .
(Emphasis mine.) Note the lack of any mention of “health”. In fact, the word appears nowhere in the entire Constitution.
Incidentally, the US Senator’s oath begins:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic . . .
Can you support and defend the Constitution when you have no idea what it says?
(Via Instapundit.)
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