This is getting weirder by the minute. First, the DOJ pesters U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson with a motion to “clarify” a ruling that he took 78 pages to explain. Now, we get Washington Governor Christine Gregoire filing an “Amicus Memorandum in Support of Continuing Implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the State of Washington.”
Never heard of such a thing? Neither have I, but I’m not a lawyer. It would appear, however, that this is also a new one for people who actually teach the law. Bradley W. Joondeph, a law professor at Santa Clara University who follows the various ObamaCare lawsuits at the aca litigation blog, has not run across this particular animal either:
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire has filed a document that I have never heard of–an amicus memorandum in support of continued implementation–in Florida v. HHS.
As its name suggests, the governor’s filing argues that the states should be required to implement ObamaCare pending appeal of Judge Vinson’s ruling that the law is unconstitutional. This would seem predictable coming from a Democrat governor, but Washington’s Attorney General is one of the plaintiffs who have requested an injunction AGAINST implementation.
That’s right. Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna is one of the 26 plaintiffs who sued the government and asked Judge Vinson to strike down ObamaCare. McKenna has been Washington’s AG since 2004 and joined Florida’s lawsuit against ObamaCare nearly a year ago. Nonethelsss, Governor Gregoire has joined the other side:
Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire has asserted in a federal court brief that Attorney General Rob McKenna’s participation in a lawsuit challenging the federal health care overhaul does not represent Washington’s position … Gregoire also tells U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson that McKenna does not represent her, or any other state official.
Judge Vinson has apparently allowed Gregoire to enter this odd brief, but in Washington (I think) the Attorney General is state official who has litigating authority. McKenna, as you will have guessed, is a Republican. Gregoire, on the other hand, is a Democrat, which means that she has little regard for the rule of law, be it state or federal.
If you doubt that statement, look up how she “won” the governorship (in 2004) by “discovering” just enough votes (during a hand recount, of course) to give her a “victory” over the Republican who had been ahead after the initial vote and the first recount. She’s a crook and I hope Vinson slamdunks her along with her accomplices.
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Rob McKenna is my Attorney General. He is watching out for all of Washington State’s citizens. To get elected as the Governor you just need to get the votes from people you could see from the Space Needle. Chris Gregoire, like Patti Murray serves at the pleasure of Barack Obama. She took his call and she said “Yes sir.” That is why she filed.
Posted 03 Mar 2011 at 3:45 am ¶In a recent email, AG McKenna wrote:
“Governor Chris Gregoire and Democratic legislators joined separate amicus briefs voicing their opposition to this lawsuit. I supported the right of both parties to file amicus briefs in this case because I believe it’s important for the courts to hear a thorough analysis of the Constitutional issues at hand.”
McKenna’s email leads me to believe that Gregoire and McKenna disagree, but respectfully. Hopefully we citizens can keep our discourse on a similar respectful level.
As a voter, I’d like to see less name-calling and more discussion of the issues.
@DBix: Gregoire and I (and President Obama) would really like you and your family and your neighbors and their families to have health care even if you lose your job or get diagnosed with a condition that the insurance companies deem pre-existing. Even if you can’t see the Space Needle, you should have access to hypodermic needles when you need them.
Posted 16 Mar 2011 at 11:44 am ¶Post a Comment