Gold Member
- Apr 26, 2011
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I was listening to the progressive radio show "The Norman Goldman Show" last week when during one of his rants he proclaimed that Mitt Romney was insincere about his claims that he would repeal the Affordable Care Act, and furthermore he would not have the power to do that as president--asking his little audience "What does he think he is a king?"
After giving it a little thought, I wondered what would prevent a Romney administration from taking the same actions the Obama administration has taken regarding federal immigration laws? Obama proclaimed that he is directing his appointments in the Dept of Homeland Security and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to disregard federal laws and selectively enforce others with his own personal criteria--effectively doing an end run around Congress.
The Affordable Care Act grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services a huge array of powers and responsibilities, in fact there are countless provisions in that law that states "...which will be later determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services".
Using the precedent set by Obama, Romney appointees would be well within their rights to disregard and direct their agencies to not enforce the Affordable Care Act, or to simply selectively enforce certain provisions. A Romney Internal Revenue Service Commissioner could not enforce the individual mandate, or limit the number of audits of those lying about actually have insurance. Furthermore, several states have already stated that they will not enforce the Affordable Care Act, and with a complicit federal government, it would be rendered effectively repealed.
BTW Norman Goldman cut me off and told me that every president has selectively enforced federal law, and that it is quote "impossible to follow every federal law" before hanging up on me. Both these statements are demonstratively false.
After giving it a little thought, I wondered what would prevent a Romney administration from taking the same actions the Obama administration has taken regarding federal immigration laws? Obama proclaimed that he is directing his appointments in the Dept of Homeland Security and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to disregard federal laws and selectively enforce others with his own personal criteria--effectively doing an end run around Congress.
The Affordable Care Act grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services a huge array of powers and responsibilities, in fact there are countless provisions in that law that states "...which will be later determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services".
Using the precedent set by Obama, Romney appointees would be well within their rights to disregard and direct their agencies to not enforce the Affordable Care Act, or to simply selectively enforce certain provisions. A Romney Internal Revenue Service Commissioner could not enforce the individual mandate, or limit the number of audits of those lying about actually have insurance. Furthermore, several states have already stated that they will not enforce the Affordable Care Act, and with a complicit federal government, it would be rendered effectively repealed.
BTW Norman Goldman cut me off and told me that every president has selectively enforced federal law, and that it is quote "impossible to follow every federal law" before hanging up on me. Both these statements are demonstratively false.