Reference no: EM133640357

Question 

Concerned that Americans are living increasingly sedentary, unhealthy, and medically costly life styles, the president and congress jointly enacted the Walk to Fitness Act (WFA). The WFA requires each American over the age of 16 must purchase a specified government- anufactured pedometer, which when worn measures how many miles a person walks each day. The pedometer is sold to the public at price of $20, which provides a small profit to the government, made possible by the huge volumes expected to be sold. The device is custom fitted so that it can work only on the body of the particular purchaser to whom it is registered. Another provision of the WFA says that after the end of each year, the device wearer shall print out the total miles registered on the device during the prior year, and enclose the printout with their tax return. Anyone whose "age adjusted total annual mileage walked" does not reach a pre-specified threshold (approximately 150 miles) must pay a "penalty" of $200.00, payable to the IRS as a tax liability. Exemptions are given for those whose medical exemptions through their healthcare providers, which state under penalty of perjury, that a person is medically unable to walk the threshold amount. Anyone who reaches the threshold submits a printout of their mileage and receives a one-time government refund of $20.00. This amount equals the cost of the pedometer. Congress defends the constitutionality of the WFA on the grounds that the pedometer program benefits the public by promoting fitness and well-being, and fitter people will cause the nation's ever-increasing health care costs to decline, leading to lowering of the costs billed in the interstate market for health care services and insurance. ased on relevant Supreme Court precedent(s) is the WFA a constitutional exercise of Congress' Commerce power?