Tom Corbett
Lancaster County's Republican state House delegation is backing Attorney General Tom Corbett in a controversial and potentially costly legal challenge of the federal health care law.
"The federal government is usurping powers and authority that were never granted it by the Constitution," said state Rep. Scott Boyd, a Republican from West Lampeter Township.
Legislators who oppose the health care law signed by President Barack Obama on Sunday say it goes beyond the powers delegated to the federal government by the 10th Amendment, which reserves many rights for states.
"If it is constitutional to mandate the purchase of a particular private item, good or service just because it exists, then where will it stop?" said Rep. Bryan Cutler, a Republican from Peach Bottom.
"What else can they mandate that we purchase 'for our own good?' Will they require everyone to exercise daily because it is healthy? If this is constitutional then there are no more individual freedoms," said Cutler.
Passage of the landmark legislation gave Republicans and Democrats in Harrisburg something else to fight about. State Rep. Mike Sturla of Lancaster, the only Democrat in the county's House delegation, signed a letter urging Corbett to back off what he called a "frivolous" lawsuit.
"I fail to see what the logic is behind this," said Sturla. "I don't understand why, other than for political reasons, you would try this stunt."
Corbett, a Republican who is running for governor, says he is questioning whether the federal government has the constitutional authority "to direct or order an individual citizen to purchase any item, good or service."
House Democratic leaders, meantime, say he's grandstanding and putting taxpayer money at risk, though it's unclear how much it will cost Pennsylvania to fight the health care bill.
Corbett is among 13 state attorneys general to file a lawsuit against the new legislation within minutes of it being signed by President Barack Obama.
Eighty-six House Republicans, including all seven from this county, signed a letter in support of the challenge.
READ: House Republicans' letter to Corbett
"We applaud you in your decision to challenge this unprecedented intrusion into the lives of Pennsylvanians and offer our support for your actions," the letter reads.
They say the new law threatens individual liberties and infringes on the rights of states.
Sturla called that position laughable.
"I'm hoping they don't follow the logical progression, which would be that the federal government will say you don't have to have car insurance when you travel state to state," Sturla said.
State Rep. John Bear signed the letter, he said, because he and many constituents in the 97th Legislative District felt the insurance mandate "was rammed down their throats."
In addition to Bear, Boyd and Cutler, members of the county's House delegation who signed the letter supporting the legal challenge are Reps. Tom Creighton, Gordon Denlinger, Dave Hickernell and Katie True.