Jan. 4, 2010

King: Politics not behind investigation in health bill vote

The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY (AP) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King said last week the investigation by 13 Republican attorneys general into a deal that allowed a Democrat-backed health care reform bill to pass the U.S. Senate is not motivated by politics.

King said he and the attorneys general believe a deal that provides special treatment for Nebraska's Medicaid program is unconstitutional and was designed to win the vote of Democratic Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson.

With Nelson's vote, the bill passed the Senate by a 60-39 vote. That gave it the supermajority needed to advance the legislation.

King said he expects Democratic attorneys general to join the investigation before it's over. He said he was reaching out to other attorneys general regardless of party.

The Republican attorneys general have written a letter to congressional leaders telling them to remove the Nebraska deal from the final version of the health care reform bill or face legal action.

"Alabamians should not be forced to subsidize another state's Medicaid program, particularly when our own Medicaid program is on financial life-support,'' King said.

Joining King in the investigation and the letter to congressional leaders are attorney generals from South Carolina, Washington, Michigan, Texas, Colorado, North Dakota, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Utah, Florida, Idaho and South Dakota.

Nelson responded to criticism of his action Dec. 30 when in a television ad during the Nebraska-Arizona Holiday Bowl, he said he stuck by his principles throughout the debate and doesn't want Nebraska residents to be confused on his position.
 
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley has said he supports the investigation and asked King to also investigate other possible deal making in Congress to pass health care reform.