Republican opposition to the health-insurance reform bill passed by the Democratic Congress this week continued in the General Assembly on Friday, despite lawmakers facing a pressing deadline.
During a marathon Crossover Day session that spilled into Friday evening, Rep. Austin Scott kept alive a running battle between GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue and Democratic Attorney General Thurbert Baker.
Scott, R-Tifton, who is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed the term-limited Perdue, held a news conference to unveil a House resolution ordering Baker to sue the federal government over the health legislation on Georgia’s behalf.
Perdue had asked Baker earlier this week to file a lawsuit. But Baker refused, arguing that the state would run up a costly legal tab for a case it couldn’t win.
“The means through which the federal leadership has implemented this change does not reflect the will of the people, and is fundamentally unconstitutional,” Scott said. “I wish to make the will of the people of Georgia abundantly clear to our own attorney general … we are directing [him] to file a lawsuit.”
More than a dozen other states have already filed suit, arguing that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to order American individuals and businesses to buy health insurance or face fines.
Perdue said on Thursday that because of Baker’s refusal, he likely would appoint a special attorney general to pursue a lawsuit for Georgia.
The prospects for Scott’s resolution are problematic. Twice on Friday, minority Democrats used procedural votes to thwart Republican efforts to introduce Scott’s amendment into the House.
Legislation that fails to pass either legislative chamber by the end of Crossover Day generally is dead for that year.
Meanwhile, the Georgia Senate voted virtually along party lines on Friday in passing legislation asserting that no state department or agency may implement any aspect of the federal health-insurance reform bill.
The 30-16 vote on the measure, sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, keeps the issue alive in the General Assembly, even if Scott’s resolution dies without obtaining a House vote.
