Letter To The Editor: McKenna Responds To Comments From Gov. Gregoire

Randy Pepple, Attorney General Rob McKenna's campaign manager, released the following statement in response to comments made by Governor Christine Gregoire on Friday, March 24:

"Today the U.S. Supreme Court opened the first of three days of unprecedented arguments on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  It is a serious case, and yet we continue to hear partisan attacks from Washington State politicians on the lawsuit brought by a majority of the states' Attorneys General and Governors.

"It is unfortunate that Governor Chris Gregoire is choosing to wrap up her career of public service by wielding the hatchet in the Democratic Party’s latest attack on Attorney General Rob McKenna. She wants to fight over policy, though she is well aware that AG McKenna is part of a lawsuit focused on the Constitution.  As a former Attorney General, she understands the nature of the multi-state lawsuits which Attorneys General participate in on behalf of their states.  She knows that each AG may bring their own perspective to the case, and will focus on that perspective, but that majority rules when it comes to the specific legal arguments advanced in the filings with the court.

"Instead of recognizing that AG McKenna and she have a different legal opinion, Gov. Gregoire ignores his focus on the constitutionality of the individual health care mandate and recites the attack talking points provided by the State Democratic Party when she discusses the case.  She took the opportunity following a bill-signing ceremony last Friday to say that 'He (McKenna) is actually acting to get rid of the entire affordable care act' when she knows that is not true.  Attorney General McKenna has been honest with the Governor about their difference of opinion on his constitutional challenge of the individual mandate, yet she does not return that honesty when she discusses the case.

"Her partisan approach means that Gov. Gregoire is putting politics above the United States Constitution and the limits to federal power that the architects of that document fought for. No one is against meaningful health care reform, but it matters greatly that the Constitution is not cast aside in the pursuit of that goal."

Randy Pepple,
Campaign Manager for Attorney General Rob McKenna