Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker last week pooh-poohed requests from Gov. Sonny Perdue and the state's two U.S. Senators to investigate the constitutionality of the health care reform bill that passed the Senate on Christmas Eve. Baker brushed off the requests, saying there was nothing to investigate because the final version of the bill has yet to pass.

Baker is technically correct that there would be no point in filing suit prior to final passage of the bill. But his apparent willingness to turn a blind eye to that bill's expected severe financial impact on the taxpayers of this state - an attitude signaled by his failure to offer any words of concern about the bill's probable impact here, or its obvious constitutional considerations - does not bode well.

Perdue said last week the Senate version of the bill would pile additional Medicaid costs on state like Georgia. And Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia joined him in complaining that the last-minute deal used by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to buy the key vote of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) - the deal that Republicans and others have dubbed "the Nebraska compromise" - is patently unconstitutional.

That deal would permanently exempt Nebraska from paying Medicare costs that other states must pay. One hundred percent of the cost of all newly eligible Medicaid enrollees in Nebraska would be permanently borne by the federal government, under the bill. At present, states must make a financial contribution to the program.

"We have serious concerns about the constitutionality of the special deal for Nebraska as it results in special treatment for only one state in the nation at the expense of the other 49," wrote Chambliss and Isakson. "While Georgia will have to struggle to come up with hundreds of millions of dollars to comply with the massive new federal Medicaid mandate, Nebraska does not have to come up with a single dollar."

The Democrats' bill would expand Medicaid eligibility by requiring states to cover all residents with incomes of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.

"This will increase the financial burden in Georgia by hundreds of millions of dollars at a time when our state can least afford it," the Georgia senators wrote.

Their comments were echoed by Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens, who is running for state attorney general.

"It is a felony to buy votes in this country. That same prohibition must apply to our legislators. All legal options must be considered and applied to stop this outrage. Georgians cannot afford the many new taxes associated with this bill, let alone a special provision that lets us pay for citizens of another state."

Indeed, Baker and the Democrats' bill would condemn Georgia taxpayers to paying disproportionately higher Medicare costs forever.

Yes, Baker might incur the wrath of some of his fellow Democrats if he were to join with the attorney generals of other states to explore the constitutionality issues involved in the health bill. But his first priority must be what is best for the people of Georgia - not what is best for his political party.