Rep. John Lewis says government can force you to buy health insurance because of 'pursuit of happiness' in Declaration of Independence

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1/19/11, "Rep. John Lewis Says Declaration's ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ Language and 14th Amendment Authorize Congress to Force People to Buy Health Insurance," CNS News, N. Ballasy

"Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) said on Tuesday that the government should require individuals to buy health insurance and cited the Preamble to the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence’s

• “pursuit of happiness” language and the 14th Amendment as the sources of Congress’ authority to enact such a mandate....

CNSNews.com also asked Lewis what part of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to require individuals to buy health insurance.

“Well, when you start off with the Preamble of the Constitution, you talk about the pursuit of happiness," said Lewis. "You go to the 14th Amendment--it’s equal protection under the law and we have not repealed the 14th Amendment. People have a right to have health care.

• It’s not a privilege but a right."...

The 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Lewis also predicted that the Supreme Court will ultimately decide that the individual mandate in the health care law in constitutional.

“I think when it gets to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court will rule that it is legal and constitutional,” he said."