rockin'robin

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Attorneys for 20 states fighting the new federal health care law told a judge Thursday it will expand the government's powers in dangerous and unintended ways. The states want U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson to issue a summary judgment throwing out the health care law without a full trial. They argue it violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.

"The act would leave more constitutional damage in its wake than any other statute in our history," David Rivkin, an attorney for the states, told Vinson.

President Barack Obama's administration counters that Americans should not be allowed to opt out of the overhaul because everyone requires medical care. Government attorneys say the states do not have standing to challenge the law and want the case dismissed.

Vinson, who was appointed to the bench almost 30 years ago by President Ronald Reagan, heard arguments Thursday but said he will rule later.

In a separate case, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson earlier this week became the first federal judge to strike down a key portion of the law when he sided with the state of Virginia and ruled the insurance requirement unconstitutional. That case is likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two other federal judges have upheld the insurance requirement.

In Florida, Vinson questioned how the government could halt the massive changes to the nation's health care system that have already begun. Rivkin told him the constitutional violations are more important.

The judge questioned the Obama administration attorneys about whether the government is reaching beyond its power to regulate interstate commerce by requiring citizens to purchase health insurance or face tax penalties.

"A lot of people, myself included for years, have no health insurance," said Vinson, who described being a law student and paying cash to the doctor who delivered his first child.

"It amounted to about $100 a pound," he said, laughing.

Vinson also grilled government lawyers about their contention that people can be required to have health insurance because everyone needs medical care. Under that logic, he said, Americans could be forced to wear shoes or buy groceries or clothes.

But administration attorney Ian Heath Gershengorn said health insurance is different because it covers catastrophic injuries and chronic diseases.

"Those costs, when they come, are unpredictable and substantial," he said.

Gershengorn also defended the administration against the states' claim that it was coercing them into participating in the health care overhaul. The states say the have no choice but to go along with the federal program because billions in Medicaid dollars are at stake.

Gershengorn said the states see huge benefits from Medicaid and the federal government is covering the bulk of the health care overhaul costs.

The other states involved in the lawsuit are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.

20 states ask judge to throw out Obama health law - Yahoo! News

Deafness

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Buffalo

Can someone tell me how can a person WANT to go without a health insurance? Suppose a person got in a bad accident, how is he/she is going to pay for the costs? How is he/she going to pay when he/she is out of work while recuperating. I am having a hard time wraping my mind around this.

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“The problem is not that the (deaf) students do not hear. The problem is that the hearing world does not listen. “- Rev Jesse L. Jackson ( American Civil Rights Activist, Minister)

rolling7

The same way they WANT to go without home, car, life, disablity insurance!! They don't want to pay, they would rather spend the money on a cell phone bill, a cable/sat. bill,etc. Their priorities are just screwed up!!

TXgolfer

Perhaps they have a different plan.. Premiums for private insurance can be steep and by the time deductible and the lifetime cap (now an annual cap under obamacare) are figured in sometimes having health insurance doesn't make sense.

Right now the annual cap is $750,000 on many plans..... Good luck with that if something major happens.

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Ps 109:8 let his days be few,and let another take his office -KJV-

Foxrac

Having car insurance is required in most states, I believe.

I think that court ruling on mandatory insurance coverage under federal law may unconstitutional due to trumped the state's power but if state wants to pass the mandatory health insurance coverage at statewide so it is possible to be as constitutional. It is hard to tell about what judge is going on and need find out more in later.

The current health system in US need a lot of work and inflation on health cost need to be under control or millions may end up to lose the insurance coverage if cost goes up and unable to afford anymore. It does put hospitals into hard time because they need insured patients to receive a funding to support hospital needs.

That's just sad, at least for me. Neither of politicians will really care about it but want to score their political point when their idea isn't working.

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jillio

You are delusional and judgemental.

Reba

If it's a bad car accident, then auto insurance should cover that. If it's a work related accident, workers comp might cover that. If it's an accident at a neighbor's house, then homeowner's insurance might cover that. It it's an accident at an amusement park or store, their insurance should cover it. There are other possibilities.

When the person is out of work and recuperating, will the Obamacare plan cover the loss of work expenses? I thought it covered only direct medical expenses.

I don't know why people don't want health insurance. Why do people do any risky behaviors like smoking, drinking, not wearing seatbelts or helmets, having unprotected sex, etc.?

Some young people feel impervious to health problems or risks.

posts from hell

I don't like paying for car insurance because i'm quite a safe driver. I would prefer to pay you if i fk up. And yes, if you wind up in the hospital, I most likely have you fully covered too.

rolling7

No, I'm not! I never said people should go without insurance but they can if they want to. It is call freedom of choice. If a person wants to go without, so be it. They then become responsible for anything at all that happens to them. It is not yours nor mine nor the governments responsibility to help them out. That is what charity orginizations are for. That is totally clear. And as far as me judging anyone...go back to the post... a question was ask and I was only trying to give an answer...I am not judging anyone's behavior.
Get it now??

jillio

Obviously, you don't get it. It is not usually a matter of "wanting to."

rolling7

If it is not, then why do they have a phone bill, a cable bill, a bar tab, etc.
Do you seriously think that only poor people are the ones without insurance? If you do, then your a fooling yourself. Think about it this way, get insurance ( and afford it) for yourself....then get insurance (and afford it) for yourself and partner... then get isnsurance for yourself, partner and any child. At any time you can't afford it, DON'T DON'T go to the next step!!! Can't afford car insurance?? take public transportation and get busy saving for a car if you want to. But don't get a car without insurance.
Can't afford health insurance? Then you better well take care of yourself and don't do any of that "wildlife", eat right, sleep, take care of your body. And save, just in case you happen to get a bad case of the flu and need to go to the doctor (notice: I did not say the ER)
There is nothing that gets by me but plenty you make excuses for.

jazzy

That is full of BS. My brother in law just found out that he has MS and he works his ass off to make $$$ for many years and he has health insurance for hospital only. Now he found out that he has to buy prescription, 3500.00 per month to fight his MS. Thank God he found medicine thru Canada for free one year then will buy Canada's medicine for 1300.00 per month. What a screw up our country is because people alike you are so selfish. We are taxpayer and we work our ass off to help others but it is seem everyone is crying about $$$$. Wait till your turn then you paid big price and suffer just alike my brother in law. I am so sick of them who fight against us who want health insurance for everyone. And not worry about losing their homes. That is one reason why I voted Obama. I want health insurance for everyone.

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jillio

How do you know that they do? Been going through people's trash and reading their bills? Alot gets by you because you are wearing blinders. Ever hear of the working poor? Ever hear of unemployment? Ever hear of pre-existing conditions? You seriously need to just shut up.

Foxrac

Yup, I understand and agree with you.

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Foxrac

Tell him to drop the car insurance and good luck with expensive car accident ever in his life.

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TXgolfer

How rude....

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Ps 109:8 let his days be few,and let another take his office -KJV-

TXgolfer

Everyone wants affordable healthcare..... But many of us disagree with obama's method.

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Ps 109:8 let his days be few,and let another take his office -KJV-

yizuman

For the same reason why it is a bad idea to force people to buy auto insurance who don't own a car.

Both Health and Auto insurances should be a matter of personal choice, not force.

Yiz

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Foxrac

Auto insurance isn't required if you don't own car or don't have car.

Auto insurance is required in most states, especially on liability coverage if you own car or have to drive the car.

For health insurance, it is bad compare with car insurances since they are very different.

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Steinhauer

yes, car insurance is required if you **choose** to drive.

This health insurance bill passed by Obama is required if you **choose** to breathe.

Foxrac

Not really, mandatory health insurance coverage is obviously nothing and you don't have to get one because your state filed the lawsuit and it is more likely to overturn in court.

Mandatory health insurance coverage is only work and make sense if government offers public insurance or government sponsored insurance like Germany did, IMO.

I must have health insurance, no matters if offered by workplace or full insurance due to my health isn't good and need insurance to help with prescription medicines, of course, it has nothing with government, except for Medicaid if income is too low.

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rolling7

So sorry about your brother but you made my point for me, thank you. You stated your brother has insurance, good for him. Just not enough to cover everything. That is wher charity come into play. There are many charities and people willing to help out to a great deal of programs.....there is even one for MS....I know this because my sis-in-law died from MS. After her insurance, her church provide a whole bunch of help with fund raising and personal help. You say you voted for Obama because you want health care for everyone but really you want free health care for some.

jillio

**nodding**

jillio

If they drive a car they need to be insured.

Buffalo

Ok... maybe I didn't say it right. Why would the politicians want to overturn the ObamaCare? I think I understand that all Americans should pick an insurance plan - private or ObamaCare. Why the politicans want to overturn that good thing? Does it mean the money will have to come out of the state for the poor? Many of the poor are on Medicare or Medicaid.

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“The problem is not that the (deaf) students do not hear. The problem is that the hearing world does not listen. “- Rev Jesse L. Jackson ( American Civil Rights Activist, Minister)

TXgolfer

Very simple.....many of us believe obamacare is a BAD thing not a good thing. We believe it is the wrong approach to the problem and too expensive among other complaints...

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Ps 109:8 let his days be few,and let another take his office -KJV-

jazzy

You dont get it. He just spend $35,000 out of his own pocket on doctor bills when he could have bought a full health insurance to cover those doctor bills but insurance now know he has MS and won't give him one. That is problem with our country. Buy health insurance is cheaper than spend $$$ on those expensive treatments. Anyway he won't take any charties because he is pride man. He will take $$ out of his house if he has to before fall to that lowest level which mean poverty. His wife has very successful business and has few employees work for her and his business, he can not run it anymore so he gave his business to his son. Don't twist all those ideas of young poor people who does not have health insurance. Our country is in deep sh%t for not give them jobs. With Obama's plan it will help him.

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jazzy

20 years ago when we applied private health insurance for 4 of us, I realized that we had to spend about 6 thousand dollar a year to have health insurance plans. No grace period if one day late especially when my husband ran his own business which it came with leanest months ( slow mean no money come in). If I decided to buy then I had to deposit one thousand dollar then pay 500 monthly for insurance. Well everyone say we need to have car insurance, yes it is true it is required by law that we have car insurance if we have cars but they are cheap. We only pay about 1100.00 per year compare to those health insurance that everyone believe it is our responsible to buy one but they did not realize that buy health insurance is one of most expensive. Many of us can not afford them then we are out of luck because many of us did not fall into one group poverty level. Now u know why I got this job, it took me 3 years to get a full time job with full benefit at PO. We have subs who work with us, they have no health insurance thru PO. Many jobs nowday does not offer a full time job to people so they do not offer them health insurance alike for instance Walmart. I do not trust any of those congressmen/women because they already have a excellent health plan insurance from us taxpayers.

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Beowulf

Because they are ignorant or pricks or both.

deafgal001

Wirelessly posted

Car insurance plus health insurance= no money in the bank