Sen. Conrad ‘Assumes’ Constitution’s Commerce Clause Gives Congress Power To Mandate Buying Health Insurance

Edwin Mora
CNS News
Thursday, Dec 24th, 2009

Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) told CNSNews.com that he does not know specifically where in the Constitution Congress is given the authority to require that Americans buy health insurance, as mandated in both the Senate and House health care bills, but Conrad said he assumes the power is granted through the Constitution’s Commerce clause.

[efoods]At the Capitol on Tuesday, CNSNews.com asked Senator Conrad: “Could you specifically say where in the Constitution does Congress get the authority to mandate that individuals get health insurance?”

Conrad said: “No, but I’ll refer you to the legal counsel for the Senate and they’re the ones that lead there as the full legal basis for the individual mandate — and I assume it’s in the Commerce clause.”

The Commerce clause, found in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, states that Congress has the power “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among several States, and with the Indian tribes.”

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