According to Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the Constitution does authorize Congress to mandate that Americans buy health insurance. And he’s chairman of the Judiciary Committee, so he ought to know.

CNSNews.com asked Conyers, “The individual mandate in the bill requires individuals to purchase health insurance. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has said that never before in the history of the United States has the federal government required any one to purchase any good or service. What part of the Constitution do you think gives Congress the authority to mandate individuals to purchase health insurance?”

Conyers replied, “Under several clauses, the Good and Welfare Clause and a couple others. All the scholars, the constitutional scholars that I know – I’m chairman of the Judiciary committee, as you know – they all say that there’s nothing unconstitutional in this bill and if there were, I would have tried to correct it if I thought there were.”

We’re not sure what part of the “living constitution” Conyers is referring to, but the so-called “Good and Welfare Clause” doesn’t exist in the U.S. Constitution. Details, details.