mark@devol2010.com


For Immediate Release



        Does Congress have the authority to regulate the purchasing of health insurance across state lines?

        Among the proposals in Congress pertaining to health-care reform is changing the law to allow people to buy insurance from other states.

        Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives Mark DeVol, of Andersonville, asked and answered the "authority" question.

        DeVol said, "Under Section 8, Clause 3, of the U.S. Constitution, the Commerce Clause says: Congress shall have the power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes,"

        The founding fathers' original intent, with respect to the Commerce Clause, he emphasized, was "to prevent state tariffs that worked against the interests of the citizens by raising prices of goods from another state, and which could also result in state isolation."

        According to DeVol, James Madison maintained that "to regulate" meant to keep "regular," "thus the power given to Congress is to maintain and keep 'regular' the commerce between and among the various states."

        Therefore, said DeVol, the answer is "yes."

        DeVol said, "Congress has, in fact, a responsibility to require the 50 states to remove all barriers that restrict, limit, and/or prevent commerce between and among the states."

        He continued, "Congress' refusal to keep 'regular' the commerce between the states is in fact a violation of the oath of office taken by its members."

        DeVol said that Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) introduced, in the 110th Congress the Healthcare Choice Act, H.R. 4460, which would allow purchasing of health insurance across state lines. To date, the bill remains in the Subcommittee on Health.

        DeVol is a businessman running as an independent in the Third District to replace incumbent Zach Wamp (R-Chattanooga), who is retiring to run for governor.

        Owner of DeVol Millwork, a company that is part of the residential and commercial construction industry in East Tennessee, DeVol is making his first foray into elective politics.

        He said he is running because of the need for enhanced freedom and smaller government and because he fears for the future facing his two daughters.