NEW: Right To Life Group Blasts Chafee
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Rhode Island State Right to Life Committee (RIRTL) is challenging Governor Chafee over his Executive Order today establishing the Rhode Island Health Benefits Exchange. The group is questioning whether Chafee as the legal authority to issue such an order.
According to Attorney Joseph S. Larisa, Jr., no other state has attempted to bypass its legislature to create an Exchange.
"It is a fundamental principle of both American and Rhode Island constitutional law that the legislature enacts the laws, the Governor executes the laws and the courts interpret the laws,” he said. The General Assembly considered and refused to adopt a health benefits exchange in June -- and its own bill correctly declared that legislation is required to create the exchange to meet federal requirements. Until today, no other state has attempted to bypass the legislature and create an entire health care exchange.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLarisa claims Chafee is not complying with federal law.
“Yet, the executive order issued today purports to comply with the federal health care law by giving the exchange extraordinary power to meet its onerous requirements,” he said. “Its grant of both executive and legislative power absent legislation violates Rhode Island's separation of powers constitutional mandate."
RIRTL Executive Director Barth E. Bracy agreed with Larisa, arguing that Chafee is attempting an “end-run around the General Assembly and the state constitution.
“The majority of state lawmakers want to maintain longstanding prohibitions against public funding for elective abortion. It is tragic that a small group of determined pro-abortion officials is attempting an end-run around the General Assembly and around the Rhode Island Constitution in order to force Rhode Islanders to subsidize other people's abortions under the guise of health care reform."