Politics: Afternoon Edition: Conservative justices skeptical of mandate

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Tuesday, March 27, 2012 HEADLINES Conservative justices are skeptical of mandate The Supreme Court's conservative justices appeared deeply skeptical during arguments Tuesday that the Constitution gives Congress the power to compel Americans to either purchase health insurance or pay a penalty. » Read full article House passes pro-business JOBS bill The measure heads next to President Obama, who enthusiastically backs the measure. » Read full article Voice experts to analyze 911 call at center of Trayvon Martin shooting A Florida prosecutor is trying to determine if teen's killer used a racial epithet before the shooting. » Read full article EPA places limits on power plants The Environmental Protection Agency issued the first limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants Tuesday. » Read full article The Fix: What comes next in the 2012 race The Republican primary race is all but over. Here's five things to expect in the weeks to come. » Read full article QUOTE OF THE DAY House Speaker John Boehner offering a veiled critique of Mitt Romney, who called the President's open mike comment to Dmitry Medvedev 'alarming': "While the president is overseas, I think it's appropriate that we not be critical of him or of our country." Q&A DISCUSSIONS Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute was online at 1:05 p.m. ET to discuss why he says the individual mandate portion of the health-care law is unconstitutional: Q: Seriously, the government mandates me to drive under 55 on the beltway. They mandate me to take my kids to school. They mandate me to wear clothes in public. Why is this any different? Why is this even up for debate? Ilya Shapiro: The government regulates your driving; you don't have to drive on the interstate, or even drive at all -- but if you do drive on the Beltway, it says you have to go 55. State governments require you to send your kids to school and to wear clothes, as part of the general police power that states have but the federal government lacks. The federal government gets all its powers from the U.S. Constitution. » View full Q&A session MULTIMEDIA Video: Antonin Scalia: 'It's supposed to be a government of limited powers' Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia questions Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. on the "Necessary and Proper" qualification of the Commerce Claus Analysis as it pertains to the individual mandate. Get The Washington Post, your way. Want to stay on top of the latest news, features, commentary and more? Here's how: Mobile: Alerts: Social Media: Applications Web site E-mail SMS RSS Feeds Facebook Twitter SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE E-NEWSLETTER CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 ©2012 The Washington Post Privacy Policy