Hundreds rally to support Washington AG's health care lawsuit
by TRICIA MANNING-SMITH / KING 5 News
Posted on March 27, 2010
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Passions flare across the country on both sides of the new health care overhaul that was signed into law this week.
In Olympia, hundreds stood on the capitol steps in Saturday morning in support of Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna. He has joined more than a dozen other state attorneys general in challenging the law's constitutionality.
Many at Saturday's rally are concerned that that new health care law will take away some of their money and their choices.
"How do we pay for it? That's a legitimate question. And today a related questions: how can the federal government have the power to force me to do something I don't want to do?" questioned McKenna.
Among other actions, the new law requires Americans to purchase health insurance or face penalties if they refuse. It also extends coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.
A pregnant Kristina Whittle was so concerned about the law that she brought her toddler son to rally in support of McKenna's legal challenge. Whittle currently has insurance through her husband's job, but she worries about how the law may eventually impact her family's finances.
"I decide how to spend my own money!" said Whittle
Saturday's rally in support of McKenna follows a protest against him Friday. Dozens of protesters delivered 20,000 signatures to McKenna's office, demanding that he drop the lawsuit.
McKenna said that the lawsuit now goes to court. That's a process that will likely take months.
Meanwhile, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has sharply criticized McKenna's action.