Bob Latta

Washington, Dec 13, 2010 - Congressman Bob Latta (R- Bowling Green) made the following statement after U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson today ruled a portion of the Democrat-passed health care law to be unconstitutional.  Congressman Latta signed onto the Amicus Brief on the case before Judge Hudson, which can be found here.  

Judge Hudson’s ruling makes it clear that the individual mandate portion of the health care law is unconstitutional, citing the Commerce Clause and the precedent set by previous courts that Congress does not have the power to compel an individual to involuntarily engage in a private commercial transaction.  Additionally, Judge Hudson cites Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution which confers upon Congress only discrete enumerated governmental powers.  

“After defying the will of the American people by forcing the government takeover of our nation’s health care system through the legislative process, it should come as no surprise that Congressional Democrats defied the Constitution when drafting this legislation.  The American people and Congressional Republicans consistently pointed to the individual mandate portion of this legislation as an unprecedented invasion of personal liberties and an unchecked power grab by the federal government.  

House Republicans remain committed to passing meaningful health care legislation that Americans want- without tax increases or government mandates.”