Before Ink Dries, 14 States Sue Over Health Law

13 Republican AGs, 1 Dem charge health care reform is unconstitutional
By Marie Morris,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 23, 2010 2:05 PM CDT
Before Ink Dries, 14 States Sue Over Health Law
Florida AG Bill McCollum announces at a news conference that he has filed a lawsuit against the departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor, March 23, 2010, in Tallahassee.   (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

The threatened lawsuits over the health care reform law started arriving at courthouses today shortly after President Obama signed the measure. Thirteen attorneys general headed by Bill McCollum of Florida—who is also a candidate for governor—sued the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services departments and their secretaries. In Virginia, AG Ken Cuccinelli sued HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The AGs argue that the new law, formally the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act, is unconstitutional. The legislation requires states "to do things that are practically impossible to do as a practical matter, without giving any resources or money to do it.," said McCollum, who managed to get one Democrat—Louisiana's Buddy Caldwell—on board. (More health care reform stories.)

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