Updated Links and Comments On Judge's Ruling on Obamacare

Relevant Links via eGOPNews:
WSJ: Florida Judge Rules Against Health Law
WSJ: Read Judge Vinson's opinion (.pdf)
NYT: Federal Judge Rules Health Law Violates Constitution
WaPo: Judge strikes down entire new health-care law
Wash Times: Judge strikes down Obama health plan
LA Times: Judge rules Obama healthcare law unconstitutional

---

Federal Court: Dem Health Spending Bill ‘Unconstitutional’
Court says ‘Congress exceeded the bounds of its authority in passing the Act with the individual mandate’Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell released the following statement Monday regarding a ruling in the U.S. District for the Northern District of Florida that the Democrats’ health spending bill is ‘unconstitutional’ and exceeds the bounds of Congressional authority: “This ruling confirms what Americans have been saying for months: The health spending bill is a massive overreach and Democrats ‘exceeded the bounds’ of Congressional authority under the Constitution in passing the law with the individual mandate. Rather than penalizing Americans if they don’t buy a particular product that Washington decides is best, we should repeal this health spending bill and replace it with commonsense reforms that will actually lower costs, prevent unsustainable entitlement promises and make it easier for employers to start hiring again.”

---

Speaker Boehner Applauds Ruling on Job-Destroying Health Care Law, Calls for Expedited ReviewWASHINGTON, D.C. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement applauding U.S. District Court Judge Robert Vinson of Florida’s ruling that the job-destroying health care law is unconstitutional, and calling for expedited review of his decision: “Today’s decision affirms the view, held by most of the states and a majority of the American people, that the federal government should not be in the business of forcing you to buy health insurance and punishing you if you don’t.  It’s not only unconstitutional, it’s also unaffordable.  This health care law remains a major source of uncertainty for small businesses, which is why all parties involved should request that this case be sent to the U.S. Supreme Court for a swift and fair resolution.  Of course, the easiest way to protect the American people from this job-destroying health care law is to repeal it so we can start over with common-sense reforms that lower costs and protect jobs without unconstitutional mandates, new taxes, and costly penalties.  The House has passed legislation to do just that, and I hope Senate Democratic leaders will bring up the measure for an up-or-down vote.”

---

Griffin Welcomes Health Care Ruling
Vows to replace current law with real reformWASHINGTON – Congressman Tim Griffin (R-AR-02) today issued the following statement in response to a second federal court ruling that the individual mandate, requiring Americans to carry insurance or pay a penalty, found in the Obama health care law violates the Constitution: "I welcome the ruling in favor of the 26 states that sued the federal government over the constitutionality of the health care law. I voted to repeal the law earlier this month, and I look forward to continuing the process in the House to replace it with a new one that increases access, lowers costs, limits government, promotes job creation and follows the Constitution."

---

Arkansas Republicans Applauds Florida Ruling on Obamacare MandateLittle Rock, Ark – A Florida federal judge ruled today in favor of a twenty-six state lawsuit claiming the provision in the President’s health care law requiring every American to purchase health insurance is unconstitutional. Unfortunately for Arkansas, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and Governor Mike Beebe believe the individual mandate to be constitutional and support its’ implementation.

“The Republican Party applauds today’s ruling in Florida that the Obamacare mandate is unconstitutional as it further erodes individual rights of choice,” said Republican Party of Arkansas Executive Director Chase Dugger. “Attorney General McDaniel continues to argue the suit is frivolous and costly, but he is forgetting to mention the $100 to $200 million Obamacare will cost our state. While Arkansas’ four Congressmen took a principled stand to represent Arkansas values by recently voting to repeal the harmful law, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel took a stand to oppress freedom of choice and individual liberty by not joining the lawsuit.”

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Mark Darr: “I fully support District Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling that the health care reform law is unconstitutional. The judge’s ruling and the fact that a majority of states were parties to this lawsuit proves that this case has merit. I join the vast majority of Arkansans in my opposition to health insurance being mandated and run by the federal government.”

---

Americans for Limited Government RespondsFairfax, VA — Bill Wilson, President of Americans for Limited Government: "For the second time, the federal courts have ruled that the federal government's takeover of the health care system is unconstitutional.  Congress needs to act now to defund the regulation writing on this unconstitutional law to prevent further damage from being done to our nation's health care system. It is clear with a majority of states suing to stop the law, that it is unpopular, unconstitutional and unenforceable. Congress needs to act now to correct this mistake.

"With all Americans increasingly concerned about the unsustainable debt Obama and his cohorts have imposed on taxpayers, stopping any further advance of ObamaCare is vital to getting our fiscal house in order. First, stop any further regulation or dictates to the states. Second, repeal the law outright. And finally, move with common sense, market-based proposals to make the necessary repairs. Judge Vinson, following the ruling by Judge Hudson, has done a great service to the American people by beginning this crucial process."

---

Judge Declares ObamaCare "Void"Arlington, VA - Gary Bauer, President of Campaign for Working Families:
"Federal Judge Robert Vinson, who has presided over the multi-state lawsuit against ObamaCare, today declared the individual mandate unconstitutional and struck down the entire law. In October Judge Vinson wrote, 'The power that the individual mandate seeks to harness is simply without prior precedent.' Today, Judge Vinson ruled, 'Because the individual mandate is unconstitutional and not severable, the entire Act must be declared void.'

"But Judge Vinson's ruling is not a fatal blow to ObamaCare. The administration is certain to appeal, and the judge did not issue an injunction against the continued implementation of the law. Nevertheless, his opinion should bolster the determination of Senate Republicans to force a vote on repealing ObamaCare while the case works its way to the Supreme Court."

---

Tags: Federal healthcare law, Obamacare, Judges ruling, unconstitutional, responses, US Senate, US House, Arkansas, republicans, Gary Bauer, Bill Wilson, Lt Gov. Mark Darr, RPA, Tim Griffin. House Speaker, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!