Everyone knows about Florida Attorney General Bill McCullom's lawsuit against the Health Care Law. McCollum, who is currently running for Governor against Democrat Alex Sink, is obviously pandering to the right wing in an attempt to stir up the TEA pot. However, what if Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach) were successful in his bid to become FL Attorney General. Would he be able to withdraw the McCollum suit? Could Dan Gelber help save the single best piece of domestic policy since the 60s.
State Senator Gelber posts about this issue on his web site:
In 5 Questions for AG Bill McCollum's 83rd press conference on Health Care Reform, Gelber writes:
- Florida has nearly 4 million residents who are uninsured including 800,000 children (the second highest percentage in the nation). As you are running for Governor, what do you propose to do to address this crisis since you believe the reform passed by the Congress is unconstitutional?
- If you believe it is unconstitutional to require buy-in for health insurance, do you likewise believe that the payroll tax that Americans are required to pay for Medicare so that they have insurance when they are older is also unconstitutional?
- Florida has pill mills run amok, ponzi schemes preying on our most vulnerable seniors, child predators, and one of the nation’s worst violent crime rates. Do you really have so many extra resources and so little to do that you can afford to dedicate personnel to what some have called a rank political stunt?
- When this bill is signed into law, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Are you really willing to go to court to uphold insurance companies' right to deny care and drop coverage?’”
- You have had half a dozen press conferences and announcements that announced you were thinking about challenging health care reform and then announcing that you were serious about challenging health care reform. Why isn’t it fair for your detractors to say you are politicizing the issue?
My next question becomes, if elected as Florida's Attorney General in November, would Dan Gelber have the legal authority to withdraw the McCollum suit? If he did, I posit he would. I can't speak for the man, but I would tell Kossacks everywhere that Dan Gelber is one of the most impressive leaders and thinkers our party has. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the guy. As one of the first FL Super Delegates to officially support Obama, I can't see Dan Gelber prosecuting a case against our President's most important accomplishment yet.
If Dan Gelber were to come out and announce that he would withdraw the McCullom Suit, then I think the entire Democratic Party should support his bid to become Florida's next Attorney General.