A federal judge in Pensacola ruled Monday that the federal health care law is unconstitutional, likely setting up a final decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson became the second judge to declare the Obama administration’s health care law unconstitutional, ruling in favor of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and 25 other attorneys general.
Vinson stopped short, however, of preventing it from being enforced.
The lawsuit was started by former Attorney General Bill McCollum.
Gov. Rick Scott applauded the ruling, calling the health care law an “overreaching federal mandate.”
Senate President Mike Haridopolos called on the U.S. Senate to repeal the law.
The U.S. House has already voted to repeal it.
Vinson found the requirement that individuals purchase health insurance unconstitutional, and because of that declared the entire law void.
“This has been a difficult decision to reach and I am aware that it will have indeterminable implications,” Vinson wrote.
In addition to the states, two private citizens and the National Federation of Independent Business were also plaintiffs.
The News Service of Florida
