Attorney General Bill McCollums lawsuit against the federal government for new health care laws backed by President Barack Obama is getting the support of former New York Gov. George Pataki who has been active in the political fight of repealing the new laws.
Pataki said on Tuesday that he was fully behind the lawsuit that McCollum filed. Nineteen other states besides Florida, as well as the National Federation of Independent Businesses, have backed McCollums suit.
I think Attorney General McCollum and the other attorneys general suing the federal government over 'Obamacare' are doing exactly the right thing, said Pataki, who is going to all 50 states to hold rallies calling for repealing the new laws.
Defeating Democratic icon Mario Cuomo in 1994, Pataki --backed by the Republicans and the Conservative Party of New York State --served as governor of the Empire State until 2006 when he decided to forgo a fourth term in office.
Since leaving office, Pataki has been active in politics, forming Revere America, an advocacy group now circulating petitions calling for the repeal of the new federal health care laws.
Revere America describes itself as a new organization dedicated to advancing common-sense public policies rooted in our traditions of freedom and free markets that will once again make America secure and prosperous for generations to come. Our purpose is to promote national awareness of emerging federal law.
While the group is engaged in the issues, it is not backing candidates for public office. It's not a PAC, said Pataki.
Pataki said the group, which kicked off the petition drive on April 18 in Boston honoring the 235th anniversary of Paul Reveres ride, was already gathering momentum.
In a little over a month, we have 125,000 signatures and e-mail addresses, said Pataki. Im optimistic by October a million Americans will have signed the petitions.
Pataki was very critical of the mandates included in the new health care laws. Its unprecedented and, in my view, unconstitutional, he said. I think the attorneys general are doing the right thing in challenging the constitutionality of 'Obamacare.'
Some pundits contend that Pataki is angling for a presidential bid in 2012. This is not the first time that Patakis national ambitions have caused speculation. Pataki was on George W. Bushs shortlist for the vice presidency in 2000 but was passed over for Dick Cheney. Patakis appearance on Tuesday in New Hampshire --the state that holds the nations first presidential primary --with Republican gubernatorial candidate John Stephen, will only increase the buzz that Pataki is running for president in 2012.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859
