my next guest served as key adviser to former governor romney's massachusetts reform, jonathan grubere professor of economics at m.i. texas. he's tried to explain it all in the thrillingly titled comic book "health care reform." good to have you on the program. >> good to be here. >> is it constitutional for the congress to compel individuals to purchase something? in this case, health insurance? >> i'm not a constitutional lawyer. but when the constitutional lawyers were polled by the bar association, 85% said it were, conservative and liberal justices alike have supported it, one conservative former solicitor general, charles freed from the reagan administration, went so far as to say he would eat his kangaroo skin hat if it was found nonconstitutional. >> it is compelling individuals to buy something. and if they don't, they broke the law. >> it is absolutely compelling individuals to buy health insurance. if they don't, they have to pay a fine. and this is something which is well within my understanding and most lawyers' understanding, well wind the power of the commerce clause o