In a new development against the healthcare reform law that was signed by the President Barack Obama, 14 state Attorney Generals have filed lawsuits challenging it.
One of these lawsuits from Republicans as well a Democrat goes on to say that these reforms will force expenditures on the already pressurized State governments. The joint lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Pensacola, Florida. It says,
"It forces people to do something -- in the sense of buying a health care policy or paying a penalty, a tax or a fine -- that simply the constitution does not allow Congress to do," said Bill McCollum, Attorney General, Florida at a news conference in Tallahassee. He added that these healthcare reforms would add $1.6 billion to the expense column of Florida’s Medicaid health program for the poor.
Virginia has moved alone in these lawsuits saying that the new law’s requirements are not in tune with the state’s laws that says the residents of Virginia are exempted from federal fines that are imposed for not having health insurance cover.
"The collision between the state and federal schemes also creates an immediate, actual controversy involving antagonistic assertions of right," says the suit filed by Attorney General of Virginia Kenneth Cuccinelli, a Republican.
These lawsuit speak of violation of sovereignty of the states by the federal government and demand a bar on enforcing such laws.
Republican Attorney Generals of Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington have also joined in the protest. James Caldwell, Louisiana’s Attorney General is the only Democrat plaintiff in this joint protest.
The White House however predicts failure for these suits. According to Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform,
"There have been hearings about the constitutionality of the law, and I think there's pretty much widespread agreement that it is constitutional."
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