Five more states join lawsuit against Obama – now 18 states are suing

nocare18 of the 57, err 50 states are now suing the stop ObamaCARE. Indiana, North Dakota, Mississippi, Nevada and Arizona are the latest states to join the fight. From Reuters:

“We welcome the partnership of Indiana, North Dakota, Mississippi, Nevada and Arizona as we continue fighting to protect the constitutional rights of American citizens and the sovereignty of our states,” Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said.

McCollum is seeking the Republican nomination to run for Florida governor.

Another state, Virginia, has filed a separate suit, arguing the new law’s requirements that most Americans buy health insurance clash with a state law that exempts Virginians from federal fines to be imposed for not owning health insurance.

The filings have touched off political debates in many states on whether the U.S. government should be sued.

The Justice Department, which is responsible for defending U.S. law in court, has said in response to the March 23 filing that it will vigorously fight any challenges to the new healthcare law, which it insists is constitutional. The White House has also said it believes the suits will fail.

TO SUPREME COURT?

The Florida-led lawsuit says the health overhaul law — which expands government health plans for the poor, imposes new taxes on the wealthy and requires insurers to cover people with preexisting medical conditions — violates the Constitution’s commerce clause by requiring nearly all Americans to buy health insurance.

“On behalf of the residents in Florida and the states joining our efforts, we are committed to aggressively pursuing this lawsuit to the Supreme Court if necessary to prevent this unprecedented expansion of federal powers, impact upon state sovereignty, and encroachment on our freedom,” McCollum said in a statement released by his office.

When he announced the joint lawsuit last month, McCollum said the healthcare reforms would add $1.6 billion to Florida’s spending on the Medicaid health program for the poor.

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April 7, 2010 · Filed Under ObamaCARE


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