Judge Strikes Down Health Care Law

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The Obama administration’s health care law was declared unconstitutional Monday by a federal judge. The judge sided with Virginia’s attorney general and both sides agree the dispute will likely be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson is the first federal judge to strike down the law, which has been held up with judges in Michigan and Virginia. Other lawsuits have been dismissed and others are pending.

Virginia Attorney Genral Kenneth Cuccinelli filed a separate lawsuit in defense of a new state law prohibiting the government from forcing state residents to buy health insurance. The key issue, however, is the claim that the federal law’s requirement that citizens buy health insurance or pay a penalty is unconstitutional.

Health Care reform was one of President Barack Obama’s top priorities and is the signature achievement of his first two years in office.

Administration officials last week told reporters that a negative ruling would have almost no impact on the law’s implementation, noting that its two major cornerstones – the creation of new insurance markets and the coverage mandate – don’t take effect until 2014.

Sources: CBSNews.com, The Association Press