Dean Heller

Congressman Heller called on Nevada Attorney General Cortez Masto to defend our constitutional rights by joining the legal challenge to the recently passed health care bill.

From the Associated Press:

"In a letter to Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, Heller echoed concerns that the bill will create unfunded mandates and questioned the constitutionality of requiring everyone to obtain health insurance. 'A law is not simply justified by its intentions. Congress must honor states' rights and the equality of each citizen,' Heller wrote."

In addition to issues with the individual mandate, the health care law includes specials deals related to Medicare and Medicaid that treats Americans differently depending on which state they live in:

Given our mutual commitment to upholding the laws of our state and nation, I wanted to draw your attention to provisions of the recently-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590, PL# 111-148) which I believe merit your consideration.

Numerous governors and attorneys general across the nation have expressed their concerns about the individual mandate this law imposes on Americans. On the day President Obama signed H.R. 3590, attorneys general of fourteen states publicly supported legal action to block its implementation. Four state legislatures have already passed legislation challenging the federal government's authority to pass this sweeping law, which for the first time requires citizens to purchase a product in order to be in good standing with their government.

I am also very troubled by the state-specific Medicare and Medicaid deals included in this law. While some of these deals may be altered by the reconciliation bill currently going through the U.S. Senate, not all are addressed. While states like Nevada will have to make cuts in other programs to meet new federal Medicaid requirements, select states will not have to make such sacrifices as Nevada taxpayers offset the difference. As Governor Gibbons recently noted in his letter to Nevada's congressional delegation, the new law burdens Nevada with a tremendous unfunded mandate.

Nevadans' persistent concerns regarding this law merit your immediate attention, and I encourage your timely review of its provisions. Making quality, affordable healthcare coverage available to every Nevadan is a goal we both support. However, all federal laws must respect the protections granted to the states and their citizens by the Constitution.

Read more of Dean's letter to Attorney General Masto.