Not So Fast: Landmark Legal Foundation Ready To File Lawsuit Against Obama Administration Over Health Care Bill.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

http://spectator.org/archives/2010/03/18/mark-levin-readies-lawsuit-on/

Mark Levin Readies Lawsuit on Slaughter Rule

Not so fast.

Democrats poised to use the so-called "deem and pass" strategy to force through a health care bill will have to deal with Mark Levin first.

Levin, known to his fans as one of the most popular talk show hosts in the country, is also both a legal scholar and longtime president of the Landmark Legal Foundation, a nonprofit, public interest law firm A former chief of staff to Reagan Attorney General Edwin Meese III, Levin is the author of two New York Times bestselling books on the Constitution and the judiciary, the last, Liberty and Tyranny, at number one for a dozen weeks.

The lawsuit will name President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and "other relevant cabinet members" as defendants. Those cabinet members are Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Levin's goal? To stop the government from "instituting this unconstitutional contrivance."

Said Levin:

Landmark has already prepared a lawsuit that will be filed in federal court the moment the House acts. Such a brazen violation of the core functions of Congress simply cannot be ignored. Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution is clear respecting the manner in which a bill becomes law. Members are required to vote on this bill, not claim they did when they didn't. The Speaker of the House and her lieutenants are temporary custodians of congressional authority. They are not empowered to do permanent violence to our Constitution.

The "Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief" begins by noting that "Landmark's employees receive healthcare through an employer healthcare plan sponsored and contributed to by Landmark."

In a move that would be hilarious if in fact it weren't so serious, Levin lists the specific section of the U.S. Constitution ("The Bicameralism and Presentment Clause of the Constitution of the United States") and cites the fact that it "mandates that 'Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented to the President of the United States.…'"

The suit cites the source precisely as "U.S. Const. art. I, § 7, cl. 2." Which is to say, Levin is compelled to point out to the President of the United States and the Attorney General of the United States what every American school child learns in those little pamphlets with catchy titles like "How a Bill Becomes a Law." To wit: Both the House and the Senate must pass the bill before it can be signed into law by the president.

Levin goes go with this cite: "Article I, section 7, clause 2 further provides: 'But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively.'"

The lawsuit goes on, saying:

In or about March 2010, the Rules Committee of the House proposed a rule to the full House establishing the terms and conditions pursuant to which certain legislation would be considered by the House (the "Rule" or "Slaughter Rule"). The Rule provided that, upon adoption by the House on a vote of the yeas and nays of one bill (the "Reconciliation Bill"), an entirely different bill, H.R. 3590 (the "Senate Bill") would be "deemed approved" by the House.

If Nancy Pelosi twists enough arms to get this "passed" the lawsuit, in decidedly legal language as dry as it is un-Levin-like, says:

In or about March 2010, the House approved the Reconciliation Bill. The House has never voted on the Senate Bill. The President has stated his intention to sign into law the Senate Bill upon presentment to him.

Don't let the dryness of this language fool you. Plainly stated, Levin is saying bluntly that a piece of major legislation, legislation that could reduce a huge chunk of the American economy to economic chaos, is being "passed" into law with only one House of Congress, the U.S. Senate, approving. And that the President of the United States intends to affix his signature, in a deliberate violation of the Constitution, to this "Senate Bill upon presentment to him."

Levin accuses Obama and Holder of intending to deprive Americans of their Fifth Amendment guarantee to "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." He adds that, "Under color of law, the Defendants intend to collect taxes, remove and replace insurance benefits, and re-write health insurance contracts affecting Plaintiffs and Landmark's employees."

In addition, the suit says things that used to come out of old political novels with titles like Seven Days in May, a 1960s potboiler about a proposed military coup to take over the U.S. government. But this is no novel, and Levin is precise: "Two branches of the United States Government have and are presently intending to transgress the requirements of the U.S. Constitution, rendering the liberty of United States citizens at stake."

Say that again: "Rendering the liberty of United States citizens at stake."

"Under color of law," it continues, "the Defendants intend to collect taxes, remove and replace insurance benefits, and re-write health insurance contracts affecting Plaintiffs and Landmark's employees."

This is a stunning document, all the more so because Levin is both seriously credible on matters constitutional -- and there is a dawning recognition on the part of the American people just how serious the assault on their liberties is in fact.

Says the suit: "The Constitutionally protected liberty interests of the American public are at risk."

In short, this lawsuit means that Mark Levin has just opened round two in the furious struggle the American people are making to hold onto to their constitutional rights.

Will the suit be filed? Will the bill make it through on this "deem and pass" charade? (Or is that "demon pass"?)

Still too soon to say.

But if it does, Mark Levin is ready.

And it is safe to say, he will without doubt find a lot of Americans cheering him on.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I thought the Dems were to be the most open and honest congress... EVER. Why are they scared of a vote?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I thought the Dems were to be the most open and honest congress... EVER. Why are they scared of a vote?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

As your Canadian spouse can attest, Canada has a nationalized health system and appears to be a thriving, successful democracy. But by all means, spew the spew!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

As your Canadian spouse can attest, Canada has a nationalized health system and appears to be a thriving, successful democracy. But by all means, spew the spew!

Actually, Canadian's health care is controlled by each Province, not nationally.... It's a single-payer system, not nationalized.

You can say "spew the spew" all you want, but we live by a Constitution in this country.

Edited March 20, 2010 by Paul and Vanessa

[scandal 951]

Actually, Canadian's health care is controlled by each Province, not nationally.... It's a single-payer system, not nationalized.

You can say "spew the spew" all you want, but we live by a Constitution in this country.

Actually, each province's health plan (except Quebec, which has greater autonomy) is required by federal charter to provide certain guaranteed levels of service to all its residents, in exchange for federally provided transfer funds. This balances the "have" and "have not" provinces so that they all provide comparative and equitable levels of care. This structure is seen as beneficial by many, though not without some critics. Alberta has tried to buck the system over the years by having private for-fee service, and has come to blows with the federal government in court. I left Canada a dozen years ago so I really haven't followed the intricacies over the past decade. Nonetheless, while each province does administer its own plan, it is indeed fair to say that Canada has national health coverage under the Canada Health Act.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Actually, Canadian's health care is controlled by each Province, not nationally.... It's a single-payer system, not nationalized.

You can say "spew the spew" all you want, but we live by a Constitution in this country.

The over all health system is national, although you are correct it is administered at the Provincial level. Never the less, our system sucks. It is possible the health care bill will be better, it might be worse. You are still spewing the spew, since the current system is about to collapse under its own weight. The cries of 'unconstitutional' are laughable as a critique of what is happening.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

The over all health system is national, although you are correct it is administered at the Provincial level. Never the less, our system sucks. It is possible the health care bill will be better, it might be worse. You are still spewing the spew, since the current system is about to collapse under its own weight. The cries of 'unconstitutional' are laughable as a critique of what is happening.

First off, the current 'system' itself is fine. Government has been the problem in health care for the past 60 years... The thinking they are doing things for the 'better' when they make it worse, by over-mandating certain parts of the industry, by allowing the pharmaceutical companies to have their way with things, by keeping the market closed, etc...

Private insurance is not the problem despite the bullshit spewing out of Obama's mouth.

and saying cries of unconstitutional are laughable tell me you need to find a new country to live in. It's the rule of law whether you damn well like it or not.

This isn't even about the health care aspect being unconstitutional though, it's about the procedural move that could take effect on Sunday that is unconstitutional...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They're running around like chicken without heads. Gotta love it.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

They're running around like chicken without heads. Gotta love it.

So when something is going to be done illegally and unconstitutionally, you find that funny?

I see....

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So when something is going to be done illegally and unconstitutionally, you find that funny?

Some folks alleging that in their current panic mode doesn't make it so, does it?

[Pooky 3,782]

So, if this Bill is "deemed" to have passed, and the lawsuit is successful (both of them worst case scenarios), what would the political fallout look like?

Would Pelosi be able to retain her position as Speaker of the house with any authority?

How long might President Obama need to work at rebuilding his credibility here at home?

Would the Republicans gain any benefit whatsoever?

Is this one issue big enough to change the political landscape here, i.e. make a third party a credible option?

[Danno 1,228]

As your Canadian spouse can attest, Canada has a nationalized health system and appears to be a thriving, successful democracy. But by all means, spew the spew!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

So, if this Bill is "deemed" to have passed, and the lawsuit is successful (both of them worst case scenarios), what would the political fallout look like?

Would Pelosi be able to retain her position as Speaker of the house with any authority?

How long might President Obama need to work at rebuilding his credibility here at home?

Would the Republicans gain any benefit whatsoever?

Is this one issue big enough to change the political landscape here, i.e. make a third party a credible option?

Well if Obama signs a bill that violates the constitution in the way it was passed, he is in direct violation of his oath of office and would be grounds for impeachment/removal from office.

The same goes for Pelosi as well being the speaker of the house and anyone in the administration who cooperated in allowing such things to happen.

Obama himself has said he doesn't really care about procedures (i/e the constitution) and says any vote that's yes is a vote for health reform...

[Danno 1,228]

Well if Obama signs a bill that violates the constitution in the way it was passed, he is in direct violation of his oath of office and would be grounds for impeachment/removal from office.

I like that Logic!