In light of yet a second federal judge declaring the Democrats’ health care bill to be “unconstitutional” I would point out that on numerous occasions over the last two years, Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) defended the constitutionality of this massive, over-reaching legislation.  Please see – and hear – these past statements from Senator McCaskill.

 McCaskill: “I can assure you that I would only support the bill if I believed it to be constitutional, and all indications say that it is.” (Springfield News-Leader, How can government require people to buy health insurance, 12/16/09) 

 This latest ruling raises a fair and straight-forward question for Missouri’s senior Senator – Does she still stand by her view that ObamaCare is constitutional?   

We would also point out that in between her defense of ObamaCare, Senator McCaskill also said she did not understand why people were angry with this legislation, in addition to saying that those who opposed the individual mandate are “dumb.”  Notably, eight months after she made this latter statement Missourians went to the polls and 71 percent of them overwhelmingly rejected the individual mandate provision backed by Senator McCaskill. 

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND…..

· Victor Lovell, Warrensburg, asked whether Congress has constitutional authority to intervene in health care. “Medicare is government intervention in health care. It is wildly, wildly popular in this country,” McCaskill answered, as are health programs for veterans using what amounts to a single-payer insurance system. McCaskill said health insurers lack competition, accounting for costs rising faster than average workers can absorb. “You still haven’t answered the question!” an audience member shouted. Gary Grigsby, Warrensburg, posed the same question. McCaskill said previous constitutional challenges to government involvement in the free-market economy have failed. “I don’t think there would be any constitutional challenge,” she said. (Daily Star-Journal, McCaskill answers health questions, 8/27/09)

· McCaskill: “I can assure you that I would only support the bill if I believed it to be constitutional, and all indications say that it is.” (Springfield News-Leader, How can government require people to buy health insurance, 12/16/09) · McCaskill Said She Didn’t Understand Anger Towards ObamaCare. In Hillsboro, Mo., a frustrated Sen. Claire McCaskill admonished a crowd of about 1,500 at a town hall where she was peppered with questions about health care for veterans, seniors and illegal immigrants and provisions funding abortions. “I don’t understand this rudeness,” McCaskill told the crowd. “I honestly don’t get it.” (Grand Rapid Press, Jeers greet Democrats at town hall meetings on health care reform, 8/12/09)

· McCaskill Said Those Who Oppose Individual Mandate Are “Dumb.” “The notion that some legislators want to opt out of all the health care reforms, that seems pretty premature and frankly kind of dumb,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) yesterday in a conference call with reporters. “They want to opt Missouri out of something they don’t know what it is. “I think we are going to pass a health care bill, and the sky will not fall,” McCaskill added. “Health care costs will come down, and it’s going to be better..” Cunningham’s party is opposing changes. At the heart of the debate are mandates requiring everyone to have insurance, requiring employers to offer insurance to their workers and requiring insurance companies to cover people regardless of pre-existing medical conditions. (Columbia Daily Tribune, State senator proposes insurance opt-out ; McCaskill pans idea, calling it premature, 12/10/09)