AG Bruning: U.S. District Judge Rules Health Care Law Unconstitutional in Virginia's Challenge

12-13-10 LINCOLN – Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning released a statement following U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson’s ruling today in Virginia that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate violates the United States Constitution: “The Court’s ruling is an important step toward limiting the reach of the federal government,” said Bruning. “This decision bodes well for Nebraska’s challenge.” Nebraska is part of a 20-state coalition that filed suit against the federal health care law in March 2010. The coalition includes Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Washington, Colorado, Michigan, Utah, Alabama, South Dakota, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Alaska. Oral arguments on the cross-motions for summary judgment in the States’ challenge are scheduled to be heard Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. in Pensacola, Florida. The suit is filed in the Federal District Court in Florida. The states are joined in the lawsuit by the National Federation of Independent Business, and individual plaintiffs Mary Brown and Kaj Ahlburg.