Federal Judge Green-Lights Challenge to Health Care Reform Act
A federal judge in Florida has given the green light to a challenge by 20 states of the recent health care reform legislation backed by the Obama administration.
However, U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson yesterday dismissed a number of claims in the Northern District of Florida case even as he ruled that the plaintiffs had standing to sue, reports the Washington Post.
Vinson did rule that states can contest the statute’s “individual mandate,” which requires almost all Americans to purchase health insurance. They contend Congress lacked the power to enact this provision because it exceeds lawmakers’ constitutional mandate to regulate commerce and pass “necessary and proper” laws.
A Blog of Legal Times post provides additional details.
Related coverage:
ABA Journal: “To Your Health Costs”
Updated at 9:25 a.m. to link to Blog of Legal Times article.
