Obama's Healthcare Law Deemed Constitutional by Federal Judge

United States Eastern District of Michigan Judge George Steel ruled yesterday that Congress had the authority to enact the healthcare law requiring Americans to obtain healthcare coverage by 2014.

Conservative interest group, The Thomas More Law Center, filed a lawsuit in Michigan charging that a key part of President Barack Obama's healthcare law requiring Americans to purchase coverage by 2014 under threat of penalty was beyond Congress' authority and an unconstitutional tax.

Ruling that Congress had the authority to enact the law based on the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution, and could also impose a penalty for Americans failing to obtain health insurance, Steeh says, "Congress adopted the minimum coverage provision to address the growing costs of healthcare coverage and provide an avenue for ore Americans to be covered"

"The minimum coverage provision, which addresses economic decisions regarding health care services that everyone eventually, and inevitably, will need, is a reasonable means of effectuating Congress's goal," Steeh wrote in a 20-page decision.

Two of six claims the Thomas More Law Center brought against the healthcare law were dismissed by Steeh.  The group says the law violates its constitutional rights because federal tax dollars would be used to fund abortions; the remaining four claims are still pending.

In complete agreement with Judge Steeh's ruling, the Justice Department said it will continue to defend the law against numerous legal challenges.

"The court found that the minimum coverage provision of the statute was a reasonable means for Congress to take in reforming our health-care system," said Justice Department spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler.  "This ruling marks the first time a court has considered the merits of any challenge to this law and we welcome the court's decision upholding the healthcare reform statute as constitutional,"

Robert Muise, Senior Trial Counsel for the Thomas More Law Center plans to appeal the ruling, but added he is pleased that Steeh sided with him and other plaintiffs on their standing to file the suit, the ripeness of their claim and whether they have a right to a court determination of the authority of Congress to write the legislation.

"The case is framed quite nicely since the judge ruled in our favor on [those issues]. So really the main question is whether or not Congress has exceeded its authority under the commerce clause, and I like our chances before the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 6th Circuit," Muise said.

The Affordable Care Act was passed in March.  Steeh is the first U.S. judge to rule on a lawsuit claiming that Congress abused its authority by imposing the requirements for mandatory health care coverage by 2014.

Many lawsuits have been filed across the US to halt health care reforms based on the argument that the federal government doesn't have the right to dictate that individuals buy a product just because they are American citizens.  The US Government argues that interstate commerce has been regulated by Congress for centuries.

Twenty states joined forces in a suit in Florida to block the overhaul of the $25 trillion health care system, arguing it violates their rights and would force huge new spending for them.  A similar suit has been filed in Virginia.