PENSACOLA, Fla., Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Obama administration lawyers argued before a federal judge in Florida Tuesday that a 20-state suit against the healthcare reform law should be dismissed.
The case being heard by U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson in Pensacola originally was brought by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and 12 other Republican state attorneys general. Seven more states and other parties quickly signed on. Virginia has filed a separate suit.
The states plan to argue later in the case that Congress exceeded its constitutional authority by requiring almost all Americans obtain health insurance or pay a tax penalty, The Washington Post said.
The states also are arguing although the federal government initially funds the entire cost of the newly eligible insured, the states will have to foot 10 percent of the cost by 2020. Florida says its costs will reach more than $1 billion annually.
The government is arguing that the case should be dismissed because the 20 states and the other parties don't have standing to pursue it.
The states filing suit include Florida, Texas, Nebraska, South Carolina, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Michigan, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Indiana, North Dakota, Mississippi, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Alaska.
