Gov. Haslam Applauds Ruling Against ObamaCare

Neither of the two releases (Haslam & Beavers) note that two other judges ruled the other way. We have two judges appointed by a Democrat ruling for and two judges appointed by a Republican against.

You note this judge like the other one that ruled against, failed to issue an injunction keeping the federal government from continuing the process of implementing provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Also interesting that the 26 states (almost all with either Republican governors or Republican AGs) have and are receiving federal funds and none have shut down that spigot.

The hypocrisy reeks in these two cases since the concept requiring all to carry health insurance goes back to Republicans proposal of the 1990s.

It is noted this same judge ruled against medical benefits for many military veterans but it mattered not that these same veterans were promised lifetime care. The judge was overruled on that case.

Speaking of hypocrisy, if it is such a magnificent law, why has the government already granted 733 (as of last week) companies waivers from complying with it, ranging in size from thousands of employees down to four?

This judge, that judge. Republican or Democratic. None of that matters at all because this is going STRICTLY down party lines. You won't get one judge from either party to look at this law from a true Constitutional viewpoint.

How about we all quit crying and wait for the ultimate decision maker and see what the U.S. Supreme Court has to say because that is the final word anyway unless both parties can actually work for the citizens of America and come to an agreement somewhere in the middle.

The rest is just a waste time.

Corey, it may be "just a waste of time" but its also the process this country goes through in order to reach a conclusion. However, I suspect that during the next year both parties will work together to reach an agreement that is more palatable to both sides of the issue.

This was debated for years and is now law and gop offered nothing except not voting for it. Republicans have always fought anything working men and women have gained to help them and their family on the job.And gop talks about not spending tax dollars and that comes from rnc that is 23 million in debt.Courts will uphold this law one monkey dont stop no show.Healthy lifestyle just does not fly no one knows if they will become sick or be in a accident on or off job.

I didn't mean the process in itself, I meant complaining about this judge did that and what party they belong to and what they ruled on 5 years ago.

That is a waste of time because like I said, all judges will rule STRICTLY down party lines. Both Democratic and Republican.

And I hope you are correct that both sides will come together, because what we currently have will be deemed un-Constitutional by the Supreme Court in my opinion.

And in the end, we will have nothing all over again unless an agreement can be made prior.

what a bias comment and a slap in the face to all judges

This whole righteous indignation over "forcing" or "compelling' people to get health insurance is so far from the truth... Those who are indignant are indignant for others they do not represent. Those individuals would NEVER utilize a national health care insurance system anyway! The opposition will be using their OWN choice as most have the ability to pay for the quality of health care they would prefer. The population in this country that will utilize the program are those who can afford nothing else... And if you can't afford it then you will not have to pay for it. The whole argument is so out of whack as to be preposterous.

What an uneducated comment if you think otherwise goober because it is consistent with every single ruling given so far and one which every sinlge Democrat and Republican actually agree on from the WHite House to Congress.

I can see the whole idea of actually trying to debate a topic has lasted a whole five days. Oh well, it was a good idea for a second.

There is nothing unconstitutional about having a healthcare program.If you do not want it then dont sign up for a plan and if you can perform your own surgery you will be ok.These people where do they come from what are they scared of .Supreme court will not rule against something that will help people and has the right not to even hear it.GOP needs to move on we should had health plan years ago sooner or later every person needs healthcare help.Move into 21 century I do not have kids in school but I buy a cannon county wheel sticker.

Ignoring how judges have ruled over the years and which president appointed them would make for a most uninformed electorate.
But there are those who feel history has no bearing on the future. And much like allowing others to comment, perhaps even a waste of time.


Reading the SCOTUS on they may rule on the entire act based solely on the president who appointed them can sometimes be useful but may also give one an incorrect assumptions.

Most of us have some faith in the court (Supreme) to make a judgment using previous decisions to guide them.

dmn49 the law is un-Constitutional because it goes beyond the powers of Congress. The Commerce Law does not give Congress the power to force anyone to purchase Health Care and that is how Obama has decreed the government can force someone to buy it.

No one is saying Health Care is un-Constitutional or something that is not needed, but the law as it is currently written is.

And just so you know, health care reform would have been done a long time ago had it not been for Democrat Ted Kennedy. And that is a direct quote from President Jimmy Carter who is also Democrat. So blame the GOP all you want because that is all you know how to do anyway. I expect nothing less.

And daily, I don't ignore what the judges have done over the years or which President appointed them. I just know that none of us have the power to change them because they are not an elected office. They are appointed. How they rule affects all of us, but we have no way of stopping them or changing them.

Therefore complaining about them is a waste of time. I had much rather we all spend our time figuring out a compromise to health care. If we could just take a moment and discuss it instead of blaming, complaining and arguing we might actually find a middle ground. Do you think that is possible?

It should be worth noting that the courts have never allow the government to impose a fine, fee, penalty or tax on someone for an inactivity. For example, they don't force people who don't drive to buy car insurance. dmm49 uses the example of having to pay for education through the purchase of a wheel tax sticker although he doesn't have children in school. However, he would not have to buy the sticker if he did not drive.

In 1798 congress passes socialized medicine mandates or health insurance for sailors president John Adams signed it.But today it will come under commerce clause and that is more people in plan it will make healthcare more affordable and be good for the country.This proves that healthcare has been manadated by congress.

Someone made the following statement in 2008. Any guesses as to who?

"Let’s break down what she really means by a mandate. What’s meant by a mandate is that the government is forcing people to buy health insurance and so she’s suggesting a parent is not going to buy health insurance for themselves if they can afford it. Now, my belief is that most parents will choose to get health care for themselves and we make it affordable.

Here’s the concern. If you haven’t made it affordable, how are you going to enforce a mandate. I mean, if a mandate was the solution, we can try that to solve homelessness by mandating everybody to buy a house. The reason they don’t buy a house is they don’t have the money. And so, our focus has been on reducing costs, making it available. I am confident if people have a chance to buy high-quality health care that is affordable, they will do so. That’s what our plan does and nobody disputes that."

And if you can not afford it help will be in place to help lower income people no difference than people that go to emergency room now that taxpayer picks up.Subject was healthcare not being homeless but some people are losing their homes because of high healthcare costs or a uninsurable health problem which this plan covers among other good things in the bill .

Well dmm49 there are a lot of differences between the laws passed in 1798 than today's law.

Primarily being the fact Congress did not require everyone to become a sailor. No one forced you into becoming a Merchant Marine.

Therefore you had the option of not paying for the insurance. Our current law does not give you that option. You have to pay it or face a penalty.

Secondly, the 1798 law TAXED sailors to pay for their health care; it didn't REQUIRE them to purchase it. Again totally different than today's version.

Lastly, that was also one of the main reasons John Adams was ousted as President by the Federalists such as Thomas Jefferson due to the fact Adams believed in the "big government" like a nameless President we have all come to know and love so dearly.

The 1798 law is totally different and has absolutely no bearing on today's law. It is comparing apples to anchors.

I will say that I am pleasantly pleased you did not blame anyone in your last two comments. Keep it up, it is much better.

The point was congress and president have had mandates.And you are one always quoting that it has never been done.And I think 1798 has lot to do with america.And you talk of big government Bush spent more any president in history and left country in the hole we are in now.Court will rule if it hears it and I think they will see it will be good for america we rank 27 in 30 industrialized countries in overall taxes we pay.You are having ems workers and county workers leaving for better pay and benefits.You can not be paid 10 hour and 7 dollars of it goes to health care.Gop said give us Bush tax breaks would be more jobs we are still waiting.

Former Governor Bredesen said about this law, "this law is the mother of all unfunded mandates". Regardless of what the judiciary rules, this is a bad law, done for a good cause. In the present form it needs to go, and be replaced with a more reasonable and bipartisan solution and law. We need reform, but not one party reform or judiciary rulings.

To label Jefferson as a Federalist would take quite a stretch of the imagination. Washington, Hamilton and Adams–no doubt about it, but calling Jefferson a Federalist "by the Federalists such as Thomas Jefferson" would indicate a complete misunderstanding of what took place in the late 1790s and very early 1800s.

Soon after being appointed Secretary of State (Jefferson was in France–no danger of being dangled from a rope by the Crown since the war had been over some years) he and the radically changed Madison (remember he wrote a number of the essays that swayed many who voted for the ratification of the new Constitution) began to undermine the administration. Jefferson more so from behind the scenes with Madison in the forefront.

These individuals along with a many others felt the executive branch was exercising far too much power (sounds familiar) and were determined to set up roadblocks to restrain that power.

And so began the real emergence of the two party system. These anti-Federalists – Madison, Jefferson and the like, became what was then known as the Republican Party.

Sure hope I did not waste anyone one's time.

For those who are confident SCOTUS is going to rule against this Act, please read this summary:

In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today President Ronald Reagan’s former Solicitor General — Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried said the issue should be a “no brainer”:

"I am quite sure that the health care mandate is constitutional. … My authorities are not recent. They go back to John Marshall, who sat in the Virginia legislature at the time they ratified the Constitution, and who, in 1824, in Gibbons v. Ogden, said, regarding Congress’ Commerce power, “what is this power? It is the power to regulate. That is—to proscribe the rule by which commerce is governed.” To my mind, that is the end of the story of the constitutional basis for the mandate.


The mandate is a rule—more accurately, “part of a system of rules by which commerce is to be governed,” to quote Chief Justice Marshall. And if that weren’t enough for you—though it is enough for me—you go back to Marshall in 1819, in McCulloch v. Maryland, where he said “the powers given to the government imply the ordinary means of execution. The government which has the right to do an act”—surely, to regulate health insurance—“and has imposed on it the duty of performing that act, must, according to the dictates of reason, be allowed to select the means.” And that is the Necessary and Proper Clause."

Please, I do not need a history lesson on U.S. Presidents on a subject concerning Health Care.

I just mistyped Jefferson being a Federalist; I was referring to Adams, an honest mistake simply because my fingers were to typing 1000 wpm. I have dozens of books on all of the President’s and like you have read extensively on the parties, policies and thoughts of most every single one you can think of.

dmm49 I don't recall ever "quoting it had never been done" and I don't think you can find a comment I have made where I said that at all.

And can you please get off the George Bush tax breaks / slash jobs and focus on the topic. Bush is gone, Clinton is gone, Reagan is gone, Carter is gone, so quit beating a dead horse. Man you are obsessed with blaming. You had one good comment without it, but it is like a drug pulling you back into the abyss and you have to get your fix in or you go into withdrawal.

daily the Commerce Clause is an enumerated power found in Article 1 section 8. In summary, Congress may exercise only those powers that are granted to it by the Constitution, and subject to EXPLICIT restrictions in the Bill of Rights and other protections found in the Constitutional text.

The 10th Amendment states that all prerogatives not vested in the federal government nor prohibited of the states are reserved to the STATES and to the PEOPLE, which means that the only prerogatives of the Congress (as well as the Executive Branch and the Judicial Branch) are limited to those explicitly stated in the Constitution.

That is the primary reason in my opinion that the Health Care Law is un-constitutional. It violates the Commerce Clause by regulating and requiring people to buy a product or face penalties.

If they have that power under this clause, then I ask again; Why not regulate high fructose corn syrup or mandate everyone participate in an exercise program three times a week? All of them would help reduce the cost of health care. At what point do you and everyone else decide that Congress has reached their limit of powers? That is the function of the Constitution, not Congress.

Here is another example of a law found to be un-Constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court that you are welcome to read:

The case of United States v. Lopez held unconstitutional the Gun Free School Zone Act because it exceeded the power of Congress to "regulate commerce...among the several states." Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote, "We start with first principles. The Constitution creates a Federal Government of enumerated powers." For the first time in sixty years the Court found that in creating a federal statute, Congress had exceeded the power granted to it by the Commerce Clause.

Obamacare relies on the Commerce Clause to provide it with the mustard it needs to stay a law. Without that, it is rightfully doomed.

I think wg had the best idea "In the present form it needs to go, and be replaced with a more reasonable and bipartisan solution and law. We need reform, but not one party reform or judiciary rulings".

Health Care reform I vote yes. Obamacare, I vote no along with the majority of Americans and soon to be the U.S. Supreme Court.

Took 234 years to get bill passed on healthcare that would help people in USA and not one republican voted for it.So what we should do is not let them have this plan or social security medicare gi bill veterans benefits tax breaks farm subsidys or anything else that big government brought you.Be careful what you wish for.I like big USA Government it works.

I have no doubt that you love BIG GOVERNMENT dmm49 because it is easier for someone else to hand you everything in life than it is to actually put forth the effort to do it for yourself. Also, according to you, Health Care was passed in 1798 so it didn't take 234 years to get it done.

Big government as you describe it is an adjective that really means Socialist Government or Monarchy or Communistic Government.

How do you think big government is working in Egypt today after 30 years of the same government deciding what the people should do, how they should live or what they could and could not buy?

How do you think that worked in the U.S.S.R. until it collapsed? How do you think big government is working in North Korea today?

I think that same type of big government you would love to have is the same type that tells their people that they can have only one daughter and they must kill any others that are born because boys are superior.

Or the type that puts a DMZ between their countries and their own people to stop the influx of Democracy from happening and shoots them dead if they try to escape.

If anyone needs to worry about what they wish for, it is you.

You keep on praying and hoping the government will give you everything, decide everything for you and tell you how to live your life to their specifications and I will keep defending what the Founding Fathers fought for in 1775 and beyond and what all our of wonderful men and women have died protecting since then.

Just a little simple thing called FREEDOM and a little idea of CHOICE.

You stick your hand out and wait on the government to give it to you and I will decide what is best for me and go get it myself.

"I will keep defending what the Founding Fathers fought for in 1775"

In addition to freeing the 13 colonies from the grasp of England, that would be enable a continuation of slavery, of denying rights to females, of allowing those with property to engage in the political process, of subjugation and eradication of Native Americans--just for a start.

I would like to believe that we would all be in favor of, is what the genius of the Constitution brought forth---a more egalitarian society than what the Founding Fathers ever thought or imagined would evolve from that Constitution. One that came about as a result of the Amendments that have been added in the past 234 years.

daily, I defined what I meant when I stated I would defend what the Founding Fathers fought for in 1775 in the next line when I wrote "FREEDOM" and "CHOICE".

Sorry you missed that and felt the need to rant on about slavery and women's rights which had nothing to do with anything.

And the Amendments were afterthoughts to the Constitution and designed with the primary intent on giving the States more rights and not the Government which is the exact opposite of today.

I think the Founding Fathers would be ashamed to discover the document they worked so hard to write has turned into a crutch for the BIG GOVERNMENT ideals of people who feel the need to stick their hand out and ask for more gruel please because they are too lazy to actually put forth any effort to get it themselves.

If federal government did not control states you would not have any order great system in place.You can call it big little in between.Jefferson said what you do or say neither picks my pocket or shortens my leg.And we have limit on years can hold office unlike other countries.We can learn from our past we do not have to live in it and repeat same mistakes.And I do not hear any senators or congressmen from any state complaining about government.

If Mr Corey can type 1000 wpm call Guniess world records or Ripleys believe it or not. Pename should be fireball fingers and insured by Llyods of London

dmm49 if you aren't hearing any Senators or Congressmen complaining about the government then you are completely deaf. Turn on the news man and open your eyes. It is an every day occurrence.

Like I said before, you stick you hand out and wait for someone to give you everything in life and I will continue to believe that if you want to eat then you need to work.

Freeloading is not my style, but if that is what you can live with then by all means sign up for every handout you can get and drive your Cadillac to go pick it up.

Corey, there is a method to my madness and believe it or not it is your best interest.

For instance, were you to run for County Executive (or any other office) in the next election cycle, many of your positions on a number of subjects will already be known by those who read these posts.

Not only an indication of your intense interest in better, more efficent government but your knowledge of the various institutions and their functions along with a very good insight into your temperament and how you react to some incidents.

So while some of my comments have been off the subject, all have helped readers to form an opinion --most needed for an educated electorate.

Even if you should decide not to run for an office in Cannon County, all will now have a better appreciation of you and what you stand for and what the Republican Party in Cannon County represents.

Who knows, you may want me as campaign manager after all this.

I was refering to government pay and healthcare for congress and senate.Only thing lately is gop fighting healthcare bill maybe they did not hear it passed without them.Could be your watching to much fox or Beck. I watch news but mainly I see which way our represensentatives vote are do they even vote on a bill and what they are trying to get passed.This what everyone should look at.Healthcare bill good start and social security was looked at as bad bill by gop but has worked out very well and you will find most republicans enjoy their check every month . Good healthcare good wages cut down poverty and make america stronger .And democrats are not freeloaders you have been misled if bill is passed both parties get the benefit of it good or bad.You cannot deny the majority for what the few take advantage of.

I dont think you need start making bumper stickers yet views of democrats very bad and republicans dont rule in two party system.I think dog catcher or dump warden would be better job than county executive.And do not think anybody in county government wants a pay cut or work for free and no benefits.

daily you having my best interests in mind is at best laughable, at most a downright lie. But, I do agree with one thing you say that there is madness in most everything you write. I haven't figured out the method yet and doubt anyone ever could. But, the madness is very evident.

Save your breath about trying to be a campaign manager. I have neither the desire nor the resources to run for dogcatcher, let alone any other office for that matter.

Besides, I am a Republican and we are told every day that we are the devil incarnate according to you and dmm49, so I would have no shot at ever winning any election in Cannon County. However, to clarify, you wouldn't have to help the electorate know any of my opinions or stands on any issue because I would not hide behind a pen name and write them on a blog.

If you actually lived here, worked here or knew anything about the actual people who live here besides what you read and the times you spend going to the garbage dump (if that was really true), you might actually know me. And if you did, you would also understand that I neither care what you think of me or anyone else thinks of me for that matter. I never have and I never will. That is why I will never be a politician.

I am who I am. I make no bones about it and I am quite happy being me. There are only seven people in my life that I actually care what their opinions are about me personally and you are not one of them by any stretch of the imagination.

As far as the Republican Party goes, let me give you and the rest of Cannon County a disclaimer. I write what I write and my comments are 100% of my own accord. They are my opinions and mine alone.

If I were to write something on behalf of the Republican Party, it will specifically say that. Until then, you and everyone else will know all the other comments are mine and are not affiliated with our local Republican Party in any way.

So you can rest easy knowing that I am quite fine and dandy without your wonderful, loving concern you have shown so many times before. I think I can manage without you.

Maybe; I am not sure, but maybe.

Uh dmm49, you drifted a bit there buddy with your last two comments and kind of wondered off.

Just so you know I don't watch any of the stupid shows like Riley, Beck or Fox News. I find them to be about as stupid as the ones the Democrats produce like The Colbert Report, The Daily Show or Keith Olberman. The bashing, complaining and arguing whether you are a Republican or Democrat is an absolute waste of time and accomplishes nothing. I think if you would give them up, you might lose the need to come here and do the same.

And lastly, I didn't call Democrats freeloaders, I said "if that is what YOU can live with.....". Y. O. U.

I wasn't referring to anyone else. Stay with the program man, don't make me rewrite it and explain it to you twice.

I fully understand why we are in recession we are in happened before and gop has done nothing to help pepole out of it.New governor first week out to cut teacher pay now tenncare state troopers. GOP fought minimum wage bill living wage bill anything that would help working man or woman get above poverty level.Wasted year fighting healthcare bill and still wasting time after 35 years on roe-wade.Gop likes keeping your mind on stupid issues and ones that are important never get looked at.That is why tn is behind in education and pay compared to other states.

GOP cutting because Democrats wastefully and negligently overspent. Left billion dollar hole. Democrats like giving people things state/country can't afford. Creates welfare state, enslaves them to government. Not happy with less, call representatives and tell them to raise your taxes.

Give it up Kevin, you can not explain anything to someone who is self absorbed and determined to blame everyone else for the deficet while expecting the government to give them every single thing in life.

The dmm49's of the world know no other way except to stick their hand out and demand to be given everything, told how to use it and then complain when they don't feel like they have been given enough.

Work, solutions, effort and contributions to society are not things that are things they comprehend. If the government doesn't show them how to get it or use it, they are in such a state of shock that they can't function.

I know there is an way too much fraud and financial abuse (incompetence) on the part of government and participants and I want to do everything we can to end it but I am proud to live in a country that wants to assist those who are incapable or unable to do so for themselves.

Bar for "those who are incapable or unable to do so for themselves" seems to be increasingly getting lower. Beginning to wonder if I qualify for the government dole.

As reagan put it Well you are in the trickle down mode and now you have found trickle is just drip.Eight years of reagan 12 years bush boys got you in this mess.Lamar-Corker helped pass bush tax cuts twice which democrats went along with last time promise of more jobs.Top 500 companies in america are sitting on more money than any time in history so where are the jobs.I was against tax cuts from start no help unless your are millionaire.As for bar being low over half people working at wal mart are on federal help. and they largest employer in usa and have forced many small business owners out.County voted down fire code bill which would have brought in more money for county.Open up some roads get water on them more people might come to county.People on board drawing farm subsidys which I have nothing against but turn around vote againt things that would help county and a raise for county workers which turn around and put it back into county tax base.

Your waste you speak of was 6 trillion down a sewer hole in war we should not have ever been in and 6500 killed. Government contracts to BUSH family ties and Reagan selling weapons to iran -contra which were the people you had war with.Still 50 billion unacounted for.Worst waste the men and women who died in the process.Still no weapons of mass destuction found.

The world is better off without Saddam, and the sacrifice was worth it. It's positives are being felt across the Middle East today, as millions are now demanding their freedom too. South America will soon follow. Raising taxes does not create jobs. County is in debt because it has and continues to spend and waste more than it has, not because it didn't have enough. Trillions lost because Democrats insisted every American be in a home whether they could afford it or not. But again, if you want taxes raised, contact your local, state and federal representatives and give them a piece of your mind.

I do think every american should have a home and I also think that employer if he is making a profit it should be shared with employees.GOP thinks a man should work for low wages and no benefits. Low wages one best things gop good at.

GOP believes in free market. Democrats believe in nanny state and welfare.

With job cuts put in place gop only hurting the economy or person next door no man stands alone or party.It is strange to me that you speak of Iraq willing to put all those tax dollars into and when working men and women and familys in USA are hurting to make ends meet.When axe falls with cuts gop has in works just remember it maybe you or a family member that takes the hit. You do not make USA stronger by tearing down its people and cutting wages.That is why there is protest in Egypt today and it may happen here next.

Again, if you want to take more money away from working people and families to keep or hire more government workers, call your representatives and tell them to raise taxes. If you are expert on how many workers and programs government needs and how much government should take and spend form working people and businesses, run for office. I want smallest government possible to get job done. If that means less government employees so be it. Nobody is guaranteeing me a job.

If gop wanted small government then Lamar and Corker should have voted cut senator wages and healthcare.The next time you need trooper or sheriff or public office to help you then do not mind the wait he might have to come fromm another county or 50 miles away.Not only government jobs affected by so called small government I look at broad view not tunnel vision.

Corker and Alexander party doesn't control Senate. Not only government jobs affected by so called big government I look at broad view not tunnel vision.

Halsam might like this idea gop can suggest this to him take 20 counties with poulation under 15000 people and combine it with next biggest county next to yours.This would leave you with 75 counties in tn not 95 and as you say small government cost less and gives you better service.Since rutherford would take over cannon county I do not think it would use less money and you still have to pay for it.So much for small government.

Government supposed to work for people, not the other way around.

"Since rutherford would take over cannon county I do not think it would use less money and you still have to pay for it."

Really? Smyrna, LaVergne and Eagleville aren't much further from the county seat of Rutherford County than is Woodbury. Neither are schools. Solid waste already goes to Rutherford. Would eliminate a slew of administrative positions in county government. Most of the duties of their offices can now be performed online as it is. Rutherford can send deputies to patrol county or set up substation. Cannon already depends a lot on Rutherford as it is because good percentage of Cannon people work and shop there.

Smyrna Lavergne Eageville already in rutherford county cannon county is not it was about less counties not towns I thought you might like that but as metro was formed in davidson county it made government no cheaper or smaller and people outer edge of metro did not get same services and davidson county still has police dept. and sheriff dept.And overall in tn and usa you are not paying that much in taxes.And if you continue to do away with more jobs every thing just gets further behind I think that is where we are now. I cannot figure out what you are conserving only live once I do not want to go back and live like greatgrandfather did nothing wrong with trying to better yourself its for sure politicians are not doing without pay or services in both partys.Government works for the rich and politicians just that democrats will throw you some corbread and a little honey to go with it most of the time.Truman said it best if want live like a republican vote democrat.

Government is about providing services to the people it serves. Where and how those services are obtained can often be of little consequence. Government jobs for the sake of having jobs is not a burden people should be saddled with. Then they will have more money to buy what they need or want.