In the latest news on State battles against Obama’s health care bill, a Richmond judge found that mandating that all citizens buy health insurance - or pay a penalty if they do not - exceeds federal authority. Virginia’s attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, challenged the government’s claim that the mandate is enforceable under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. Virginia hoped that if successful, they would achieve an injunction against the entire health care law, but the judge ruled narrowly on only certain provisions. Virginia is one of 20 states challenging aspects of the federal health care bill and is the first to deliver a ruling that could set the stage for a Supreme Court case on the constitutionality of the bill. What does this mean for other parts of the sweeping health care bill passed in March? And how does a ruling in Virginia affect other court cases happening across the country?
Guests:
Jamie Court, President, Consumer Watchdog; also author of The Progressive’s Guide to Raising Hell
Michael Cannon, Director of health policy studies for the CATO Institute