Florida Leads Oral Arguments in 20-State Lawsuit Against ObamaCare
Today in Pensacola, our office led a group of 20 states in oral arguments on the cross motions for summary judgment in our joint lawsuit challenging President Obama’s disastrous and unconstitutional health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act. Presenting our case before the U.S. District Court was an important step in moving our lawsuit through the legal process, and ultimately, to a decision repealing the law.
It has been an encouraging and exciting week for those of us across the country fighting to preserve the liberty of our citizens and the sovereignty of our states. On Monday, a federal judge in Virginia ruled the law’s individual mandate unconstitutional, concurring with a core component of our lawsuit’s argument.
Beyond our challenge of the government’s authority to penalize Americans for not buying health insurance, we also argued today that the federal government is violating the sovereignty of states. The law levies a tremendous financial burden on states by providing for an unprecedented estimated 30 percent increase in Medicaid enrollment – expanding the program to include not just the poor, infirm and children, but to first time participants who may be well above the federal poverty level. Facing a $3 billion budget shortfall this fiscal year alone, Floridians know firsthand we cannot afford a drastic and unnecessary expansion of the Medicaid program.
We feel confident in our case, in our constitutional arguments and in our ability to ultimately prevail against ObamaCare. Today’s court hearing marked a milestone in our efforts, but our fight is far from over. Thankfully, Florida Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi has steadfastly supported our lawsuit and is prepared to take the reigns when she is inaugurated next month.
I look forward to continue working with her closely in the coming weeks as we move forward with transition, and will remain a staunch advocate of this case as it makes its way to the Supreme Court in the coming months.
If you are interested in learning more about our case, you can catch me discussing it tonight on Fox News Channel’s “On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren” at 10:20 p.m., and on Friday morning on “Fox and Friends” at 7:45 a.m. You can also visit the Office of the Attorney General online at www.myfloridalegal.com.