Cassidy Statement On Court Decision Overturning New Health Care Law

Statement

Louisiana Congressman Bill Cassidy issued the following statement after a federal judge ruled today that the health care law that President Obama signed into law last year is unconstitutional:

"Mandating that citizens purchase a particular health insurance as the cost of citizenship is inconsistent with Americans' belief in limited government and individual liberty. It has also been ruled unconstitutional by federal judges in Virginia and Florida. If the Supreme Court agrees, we can implement real health reform that preserves liberty and lowers costs by empowering patients."

In a decision handed down this afternoon, U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson of Florida ruled that the law's individual mandate, a provision requiring Americans to purchase government-approved health insurance or face a penalty, violates the Constitution.

This is the second time a federal judge has found the new health care law to be unconstitutional. In December, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson of Virginia issued a similar ruling on similar grounds. However, unlike the earlier ruling, today's decision struck down the entire law, because, according to Judge Vinson, "the individual mandate is unconstitutional and not severable, [and] the entire act must be declared void."

The Obama Administration is appealing today's ruling. The appeal will go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

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