KRCG-TV: Kinder to file suit against healthcare law by end of April

By Kate Walls

Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is among those ready to thumb their noses at Congress and their federal health care legislation.

While Attorney General Chris Koster said no, Kinder was eager to block new federal health care reforms.

Kinder Wednesday night took to a larger platform, appearing on Fox News Channel's "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren."

Kinder announced he will go forward with a lawsuit to challenge the health care legislation, filing by the end of this month.

He says the health care legislation is an infringement on the rights of Missourians. He says it's an ill conceived plan that was passed in an illicit and corrupt manner.

In many of the other states taking a similar action, it is the state’s Attorney General or Governor leading the charge, but Kinder says he does have the authority to pursue this course.

Kinder said, "Yes, I believe I do; under my statutory authority as the advocate for our state's senior population and as a constitutional officer of state of government. That's how we're going forward with this claim."

Kinder also disagreed with the cost of the federal health care plan. He says it will only worsen Missouri’s budget crisis.

Kinder said, "We are over $600 Million short this budget year and looking to the budget we'll be writing a year from now, we'll be over a billion short. You can't stick Missouri taxpayers with another half billion dollar tab every year."

He said he doesn't want this legal action to cost Missouri taxpayers. That's why he's asking for private donations to pay for this legal fight.