Bob Goodlatte and the Constitution

So Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) believes that Medicare, Social Security & Medicaid are Unconstitutional.  What a shock. Another Republican who hates any program for those that aren’t rich or a corporation.

Also, apparently Mr. Goodlatte has no comprehension of the Constitution. Another quality he seems to share with many prominent Tea Partiers. There’s this little bit in there called Article I, Section 8:

“The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States”

This section is commonly referred to as the General Welfare Clause. Almost any Conservative (Regressive?) will try and convince you that this little bit doesn’t authorize social safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid & Social Security.

What these same Conservatives will tell you is that this same clause is perfectly okay in it’s vague wording to authorize the US Air Force, a defense program not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, but it’s completely unacceptable to them for authorizing any program whose purpose is to help those that at some point in their lives may not be able to help themselves.  That, to them is unconscionable.

Of course, by focusing to argue only on the opening sentence of Article I, Section 8 a key item is being ignored. The last section of Article I, Section 8 known as the “Necessary and Proper Clause”. Here’s how that one goes:

“The Congress shall have Power […] To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.“

This section is intentionally broad and states that Congress is given the power to pass any laws that are deemed relevant to ensure that the items outlined in Article I, Section 8 are carried out, including providing for the general welfare of US citizens

Let’s not forget that the Supreme Court has upheld multiple times that these programs fit within the General Welfare Clause. So, why is it that protecting the basic welfare of it’s citizens is not acceptable as one of the primary and most important jobs of a government?

– “Left of Center”