I'm utterly outraged! The Republican Attorney General of Washington State apparently plans on joining with other Republican AGs to challenge the Health Care Reform bill just passed last night. If anyone knows Washington State, you know that his move does not even come close to representing the views of the majority of Washington State voters.
From today's Online Seattle PI:
McKenna and other Republican attorneys general from Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Nebraska, Texas, Pennsylvania, Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota say they'll file a lawsuit against the federal government. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the new law soon.
From a political standpoint, McKenna's move is interesting. He is widely considered the presumptive GOP nominee for governor in 2012 and many believe the Democrats would have a tough time finding someone who could beat him. By joining the Republican fight against health care reform he can shore up his support on the right. However he also risks alienating Democrats and moderates he's going to need to win over to make it to the governor's mansion.
State Democratic Chair Dwight Pelz has a statement out about it, too, in the article referenced above. These other states that are joining in this travesty are generally pretty conservative states (except, maybe, Pennsylvania), but Washington definitely does not belong in that company, in my opinion. I certainly hope if McKenna runs that he loses. I'll certainly do everything I can to see to it. I'm also just utterly horrified, though, that Washington State is being dragged into this when the majority of the voters here do NOT agree with McKenna. I certainly didn't vote for him and I seriously wonder about those who did who were Democrats.
Is there anything we can do to stop this guy at this point?
UPDATE:
Gov. Chris Gregoire fires back:
Speaking to reporters before a bill-signing ceremony, Gregoire said McKenna hadn't consulted her or Democratic legislative leaders before making his announcement.
"I don't know who he represents. He doesn't represent me," Gregoire said. "I don't think he represents a million and a half Washingtonians that will be helped by this. I don't think he represents small business that will be helped by this. I don't think he represents Medicare people who will be helped by this."