PENSACOLA, Fla., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- A Florida judge hearing a healthcare lawsuit Thursday asked if the federal government could require everyone to buy broccoli, media reports said.
Could they (the government) "mandate everybody has to buy a certain amount of broccoli?" U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson asked during oral arguments on challenges to the healthcare reform bill, Politico reported.
"It's not shoes. It's not broccoli," said Ian Gershengron, representing the federal government. "Health insurance is a product that is a financing mechanism." He said Congress has the authority to regulate health insurance and healthcare.
Vinson is hearing a case involving the constitutionality of the healthcare bill enacted by Congress. The Obama administration has said the plan cannot cover people with pre-existing conditions unless most individuals are required to purchase minimum health coverage, expanding the pool of healthy participants.
Twenty states are challenging the mandate that would force nearly all Americans to buy health insurance. The suit is one of several currently working their way through the courts.
A Virginia judge Monday struck down the provision and the mandate seems destined to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
