Florida Judge Finds Health Care Law Unconstitutional |
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A Federal judge in Florida – Judge Vinson – has ruled that President Obama's
health care reform law is unconstitutional. The judge sided with 26 states which
had sued to overturn the law, including Ohio, arguing the Federal government
cannot force people to buy health insurance. A judge in Virginia issued a
similar ruling in December, but two other courts have upheld the insurance
mandate. It is probable that the issue is headed to the Supreme Court. Judge
Vinson ruled the entire law unconstitutional; however, he did not block the law
while administration officials appeal the decision. Judge Vinson also opined
that the individual-mandate provision could not be separated from the rest of
the health-care overhaul. Vinson rejected a second claim that the new law
violated state sovereignty by requiring states to pay for a fractional share of
the planned Medicaid expansion."
Fulfilling his campaign promise to enter Ohio into pending cases against the health care overhaul, new Attorney General Mike DeWine had filed to join 25 other states in the Florida case being heard by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Vinson. In finding that it is unconstitutional for Congress to require citizens to get commercial health insurance, Judge Vinson became the second Republican-appointed judge to side with the challengers. Two judges appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton have upheld the law, which will eventually find its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. |
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