CNSNews.com - A Message from Congress: No One Questions Our Authority

CNSNews.com - A Message from Congress: No One Questions Our Authority


(CNSNews.com) - In the history of the United States, Congress has never forced individual Americans to buy any good or service. That would change if the health care bills approved by either the House or Senate ever became law. Each would require individuals to buy a health insurance plan approved by the government.

Since Congress started debating these bills, CNSNews.com has been asking members of Congress: Where does the Constitution authorize Congress to force individuals to buy health insurance? The legislators have given a variety of answers. Some could give no answer at all. The video embedded here puts their answers back-to-back.



Transcript of video:

FIRST FRAME:

“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined.”
--James Madison
Federalist No. 45

SECOND FRAME:

continued

We were warned by Thomas Jefferson that this type of law is not to be used. ~~~ The Munz

"They are not to do anything they please to provide for the general welfare.... [G]iving a distinct and independent power to do any act they please which may be good for the Union, would render all the preceding and subsequent enumerations of power completely useless. It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and as they sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please." --Thomas Jefferson