Smart answers to tough questions
What exactly is the Commerce Clause?
It refers to Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power “to regulate Commerce … among the several States.” This week, the Supreme Court is expected to decide whether it was constitutional for Congress to use this clause to require individuals to purchase health insurance under President Obama’s health care law.
• WILL MITT ROMENY PICK VIRGINIA GOV. BOB MCDONNELL AS HIS VP?
McDonnell isn’t at the top of Romney’s vice presidential shortlist. Romney is looking for a drama-free running mate, someone unlike former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain’s 2008 VP pick. McDonnell fits that mold, but his national profile isn’t very high and he isn’t being vetted by the campaign.
• WILL OBAMA’S INVOCATION OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE HURT HIS RE-ELECTION CHANCES?
President Obama may hope to protect Attorney General Eric Holder from a congressional probe, but the decision is more likely to draw attention to Operation Fast and Furious, by which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allowed thousands of guns to “walk” into the hands of Mexican drug lords. Two of the guns were linked to the murder scene of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
• HOW UNPOPULAR IS CONGRESS?
White House press secretary Jay Carney claimed “this Congress has the lowest public approval rating of any in memory, if not history.” But Congress is actually getting more popular. An Associated Press poll shows that Congress’ approval rating is now 22 percent, way up from its historic low of 9 percent in October. [email protected]
