Gov. Chris Gregoire (D-WA) says she will “legally oppose” state Attorney General Rob McKenna’s push to get the health care reform bill repealed.
She added: “I don’t know who he represents. He doesn’t represent me. I don’t think he represents a million and a half Washingtonians that will be helped by this. “
McKenna is among the AGs threatening a challenge of the health care bill’s constitutionality.
Gregoire, in a press conference on Monday, said: “I totally disagree with him,” and that it was his “duty to consult with me.”
“It’s a unique way of the administering the office of the Attorney General,” Gregoire said, “when you don’t have a client. Who does he represent?”
Watch:
On the same day, her office issued the following statement:
I’m disappointed that the Attorney General would participate in a lawsuit to repeal a law that would help 1.5 million Washingtonians get access to affordable, quality health care.
I completely disagree with the Attorney General’s decision and he does not represent me.
He doesn’t represent the people of Washington who would get assistance so they could afford quality health insurance. He doesn’t represent the thousands of small businesses that would benefit from tax credits to provide coverage for their employees. He doesn’t represent the thousands who will no longer be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. He doesn’t represent the half million young people in our state who would be covered under their parents plan until they are 26. He doesn’t represent our state’s Medicare recipients. He doesn’t represent the taxpayers of Washington.
This is landmark legislation that will cover over 32 million Americans who don’t have health care. I have made it clear to the Attorney General that I will actively oppose this lawsuit if it moves forward.
