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Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt reacts to the Supreme Court case on the health-care law.
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Some state tip about.
That crude is Oklahoma's attorney general although his state is not one of the 26 in -- helped -- -- he has filed.
A separate challenge to the health care a lot because he believes the individual mandate is -- constitutional attorney general -- -- a front row seat hearings and joins us now.
Welcome mr.
attorney general.
Hello -- are you hi there what are your impressions after hearing arguments.
Well it's clear the Supreme Court -- -- in this case up her landmark decision to dedicated and out of time that they have over three days.
Hasn't been done since the Miranda decision this is an historical.
Case that the court the court is about ready to hand out out -- very hardened and encouraged.
That they're focused yesterday on individual mandate that that they exceeds congressional power under the commerce clause.
I think there's some encouragement that they the state attorney general has seen.
And and then to see the court articulate the questions we've been asking for two years when -- principles where does this stop.
Justice Scalia talking about what at least in the future very very -- be part of this a more hopeful they get things are gonna happen as far as think that the -- being declared unconstitutional.
Our wise that the best course of action for the state of Oklahoma.
Well we have estate and we have actually -- constitutional amendment that we passed in November of 2010.
That prohibited the government for mandating the purchase of health insurance and consequently.
The people of Oklahoma spoken very soundly and convincingly to say that they cannot be force should not be forced to buy health insurance.
Our -- it was based upon that -- we brought a lawsuit -- challenged individual mandate.
That was the -- discussion yesterday and that's the reason I think the people of Oklahoma are paints and significant attention this lawsuit to make sure and hopefully that this report will strike it down.
-- the lot without the individual mandate be affected in your view.
You know I think that the individual mandate is the funding mechanism for the regulatory scheme that congress is set -- I think it's very difficult to sever that portion out from the totality of the bill.
You know the very interest in the -- justice.
Sotomayor.
And I think also justice -- -- Ginsburg in their questions.
They're aggressive posture seemed to indicate that there is a concern amongst the liberal wing -- that the court that the individual mandate may go down and for that reason -- -- -- very.
Aggressive form a questioning about the -- ability.
Focus today so you know I think all they should be struck down I think that it is essential to the totality of the bill.
But that -- be that -- -- made our focus has been on the individual mandate from Oklahoma right active.
That with our lawsuit OK so should the whole thing go back to congress and start from a clean slate what's the best way to get more people health insurance and contain costs.
I mean I think congress needs to restart -- -- -- I think they need to reset I think that there there -- a policy objectives of covering more people providing healthcare in a more efficient way.
Is a good policy objective of this need to be done within the confines the constitution.
The court yesterday said very clearly.
Then -- this power exist in congress there are no boundaries it is a plenary power.
Which violates the limited limited government broad principles of federalism they were very clear about that from Scalia to Alito.
And I think chief -- chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kennedy asking very probing questions that and so.
They need to go back to the drawing board and as they did that to make sure they do within the confines the constitution.
Obviously this afternoon actually as we speak mr.
attorney general are talking about -- expanding Medicaid under the health care law.
What are your thoughts there I imagine you'd like to see different plan for that as well.
Well I mean I think that the that the key question there is how much authority asking congress exercise over the states delivered Medicaid and and there's a question about inducement to coercion.
This in the state of Oklahoma.
With the -- church law that was passed we are looking over ten year period of half a billion dollars of additional cost the state.
That is a significant dollar amount when you look at budgets across the country that are in the red.
And so consequently we need to make sure that -- congress reforms Medicaid delivery that they did -- such a way that they don't -- the states.
In such a -- -- increase budget deficits at the local level so I think the very valid argument the states are making.
We'll see -- response this afternoon okay thank you for sharing your impressions attorney general Oklahoma Scott Pruitt have a good afternoon.
Our.
