The joint lawsuit led by Florida and now grouping 18 states was filed on March 23 by mostly Republican attorney generals.
It claims the sweeping reform of the $2.5 trillion U.S.healthcare system, pushed through by Democrats in the Congress after months of bitter partisan fighting, violates state-government rights in the U.S. Constitution and will force massive new spending on hard-pressed state governments.
While some legal scholars think the suits will reach the Supreme Court, many agree that the supremacy clause of the Constitution, which puts the powers of the U.S. government above those of the states, will trump the states’ arguments.
South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington, Idaho, and South Dakota had previously joined Florida’s lawsuit.
Full story: Florida says challenge to healthcare reform widens | Reuters