State AGs Oppose Bid To Dismiss Healthcare Overhaul Lawsuit

Bloomberg News (8/7) reported, "Attorneys general for 20 states challenging the healthcare law signed by President Barack Obama filed court papers opposing a bid by the US for dismissal of the lawsuit." Bloomberg added, "'The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act represents an unprecedented intrusion on the sovereignty of the states and the freedom of their citizens,' according to the states' brief filed today with US District Judge Roger Vinson in Pensacola, Florida."

CQ HealthBeat (8/7) reported, "Oral arguments in the suit are set for Sept. 14 in Pensacola, in federal district court in the Northern District of Florida." Notably, "Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is leading the drive among attorneys general to kill the law's requirement that Americans should be required to obtain health insurance."

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (8/7) noted, "Requiring Georgians and other Americans to buy health insurance is unconstitutional and would do irreparable damage to the state and others, Georgia and 19 other states claim in their lawsuit seeking to overturn part of the new federal healthcare law." The states argue that requiring Americans to buy health insurance "is unconstitutional and would do irreparable damage to the state and others."

Gov. Sonny Perdue's office estimates the state will have to add 700,000 Georgians to Medicaid rolls. Ultimately, "it could cost the state more than $500 million per year as the federal government's portion declines." In a statement, DOJ spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said the department will continue "vigorously defending" the law, and added in an email, "We are confident that the healthcare reform statute is constitutional and that we will ultimately prevail."