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News In Brief

Federal judge declares health care reform unconstitutional

Bob Moon Jan 31, 2011

This final note today. The Obama administration has yet another legal obstacle to its health care overhaul. A Florida judge today declared the legislation unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson says the bill forces people to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties, and that violates people’s rights.

Vinson wrote in his ruling that if the government can force people to have health care coverage, it could just as easily force people to buy and eat broccoli regularly.

The administration’s legal team fired back, saying the states don’t have standing to challenge the law. The Justice Department plans to appeal. It’ll almost certainly end up at the Supreme Court.

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