The United States Supreme Court will hear the challenge against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare.
At approximately 10 am Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that it would hear the largest case against Obamacare filed by 26 states.
In State of Florida, et al v United States Department of Health and Human Services, et al, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed suit regarding the Constitutionality of the individual mandate, which requires citizens to purchase health insurance or be punitively fined.
The Florida suit has been joined by 25 other states, including Ohio with the election of Attorney General Mike DeWine. Former Democrat Attorney General Richard Cordray refused to file, as reported by the Examiner in January.
The states joining Florida are Alabama , Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Landmark Legal Foundation, filed a Brief for Amicus Curiae in May in the Florida Case. The Amicus Curiae, Latin for “Friend of the Court,” allows Landmark to take an advisory role to assist the States in their suit.
Landmark also submitted an Amicus Brief in October on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Businesses requesting that the Supreme Court take up the case.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in 2012.
Update 11:30 am 11/14/2011
White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer issued the following statement;
Earlier this year, the Obama Administration asked the Supreme Court to consider legal challenges to the health reform law and we are pleased the Court has agreed to hear this case. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, one million more young Americans have health insurance, women are getting mammograms and preventive services without paying an extra penny out of their own pocket and insurance companies have to spend more of your premiums on health care instead of advertising and bonuses. We know the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and are confident the Supreme Court will agree.