by Chad Livengood
Jefferson City -- Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder vows to join a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of President Obama's health care reform overhaul by the end of April.
Kinder, a Republican, said last month he would seek to become party to the lawsuit first filed by the attorney general of Florida. Kinder claims he has a responsibility to challenge the new federal law as the state's official seniors advocate. The nearly trillion- dollar health care reform bill is half paid for by cuts to Medicare.
On Wednesday night, Kinder made an appearance on Fox News on "On The Record with Greta Van Susteren" to detail his plans to join the lawsuit in a Missouri federal court.
But first, Kinder's going to need a private attorney to represent him in federal court, since Attorney General Chris Koster has signaled he doesn't intend to represent Kinder on behalf of the state.
Kinder has launched a Web site -- www.healthcareinaction.com -- to raise private donations through a legal fund to pay for his involvement in the lawsuit.
Koster and Gov. Jay Nixon, both Democrats, have shown no interest in challenging the federal government on the new law, which would mandate all Missourians have health insurance or pay a fine levied by the IRS. Nixon has recently said Kinder's attempted lawsuit isn't "serious business."
In what could be the opening salvo for a 2012 gubernatorial battle, Kinder said on Fox News that Nixon has been "arrogant and dismissive" about the issue.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100411/NEWS06/4110362/1007/NEWS01/Kinder-determined-to-join-health-care-suit
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