Republican Garrett: General Welfare Clause Not Adequate Proof

The other day I took the Patriotic step of reprinting words from the Constitution onto this blog. Words given to us by God Almighty reprinted on this blog to demonstrate where in the Constitution it gives Congress the power to provide for the general Welfare of the citizenry.  Article I, Section 8 states:

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

These solemn words give Congress the power to tax and the power to provide for the general Welfare of the United States; and the power to tax in order to provide for the general Welfare.  

I remarked after reposting those words that it all read a little "liberal" for today's audience. I mean taxing and spending money is something only liberals do so the whole clause is kind of a nuisance really. Something like this could very well be used to justify Congress' authority to enact health care reform. And since the GOP will be requiring all bills to contain a statement of Constitutional authority in the very near future we should probably do something about this.

Thankfully, GOP rep Scott Garret of New Jersey wants to exclude the General Welfare clause from such statements.

Garrett's House rule resolution would require all bills and amendments to contain a statement appropriately citing a specific power granted to Congress in the Constitution. Invoking the "general welfare clause" or the "necessary and proper clause" would not be adequate constitutional citations.

That sounds about right. Exclude from legislation the parts of the Constitution that supports stuff you don't like. In other words, if we just ignore the parts of the Constitution that prove you wrong, then the things you don't agree with are unconstitutional. Brilliant move actually.