OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Hundreds of people have voiced their support for Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, and his decision to join other states trying to overturn sweeping federal health care legislation.
The State Patrol estimated that 850 people showed up Saturday for a rally at the State Capitol in Olympia. The Tea Party rally came a day after a smaller demonstration urged McKenna to drop his participation in the lawsuit, which legal experts describe as essentially frivolous.
The Republican McKenna addressed the crowd for about 15 minutes and was loudly cheered. He told the crowd the health care bill is unconstitutional because it mandates that people buy insurance — and the government can’t force people to buy a commercial product.
Many legal experts say that argument is futile because the law frames the mandate as a tax, which the government has clear authority to do.
