The Justice Department will “vigorously defend” the health care law signed by President Barack Obama Tuesday. Two lawsuits have already been filed.
Minutes after Obama signed the health care legislation into law, the attorneys general of 13 states filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new law. The suit, spearheaded by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum (R), was filed in the Northern District of Florida. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli also filed a separate suit challenging the law in the Eastern District of Virginia. Read the filings here.
“The Department of Justice defends statutes that have been passed by Congress and signed by the President and are therefore the law of the United States,” said Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller. “Accordingly, we will vigorously defend the constitutionality of the health care reform statute, along with any other claims, in any litigation that is brought against the United States. We are confident that this statute is constitutional and we will prevail when we defend it in court.”
Leah Nylen contributed to this story.
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