ATLANTA – Today state Representative Jeff May (R- Monroe) sent a letter to Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker requesting that the Attorney General provide an opinion on the constitutionality of the healthcare plan currently under consideration by the United States Congress.
“Not withstanding the unacceptable burden that will be placed on our small businesses requiring them to provide health insurance for all employees, and jail time for those individuals who choose not to purchase health insurance, this legislation will be the death knell to any economic recovery and the end of the small-business economic engine that creates seven of every ten new jobs in this country and more specifically in our state.,” said Rep. May. “Certain states, such as Nebraska, have been exempted from additional state taxpayer funding for the massive additional expenses that will be incurred by every other state with the implementation of this 2,700 plus page plan.”
Representative May specifically questioned the validity of the current healthcare plan as it may violate the following portions of the U.S. Constitution: Article I, Section 8 on “uniformity”; Article IV, Section 2 based on certain state exemptions on payments and therefore penalties; Amendment X which denies the federal government the authority to impose and enforce this bill; and Amendment XIV which provides “equal protection” under the law.
May also questioned if the healthcare plan violates portions of the Georgia Constitution, such as Article I, Section I, Paragraphs I, II, VII, and XXIII; Article I, Section II, Paragraph V; and Article III, Section VI, Paragraph II.(3).
Representative Jeff May represents the 111th House District in Walton County. He serves as a member of the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications; Industrial Relations; Transportation as well as the Ways & Means Committees. He is also the Vice Chairman of the House Republican Caucus.
###