Ruling in Virginia’s Challenge to Obamacare Individual Mandate Expected Today
A ruling in Virginia’s constitutional challenge to Obamacare’s individual mandate is expected later today. The Competitive Enterprise Institute joined in an amicus brief filed in support of Virginia’s lawsuit by the Cato Institute and constitutional law professor Randy Barnett. You can find that amicus brief at this link.
Earlier, I discussed why the health care law’s individual mandate (requirement that individuals buy health insurance) exceeded Congress’s power under the Interstate Commerce Clause. You can find that discussion at this link. (I was a lawyer in the last Supreme Court case that struck down a federal law under the Commerce Clause, United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000).)
The judge in the Virginia case, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, earlier rejected the government’s motion to dismiss Virginia’s lawsuit at a preliminary phase (a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss).
Update: Judge Hudson rules against the Obama administration, finding that the individual mandate is unconstitutional.
Earlier, I discussed some of the bad effects of Obamacare on patients, employers, consumers, and the insurance market.