Judge Rules Healthcare Challenge Can Go to Trial

On Thursday, in Pensacola, Florida, U.S district Judge Roger Vinson said that crucial pieces of a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration’s health-care overhaul can go to trial. The judge stated that he wants to hear more arguments over whether it’s constitutional to force citizens to buy health insurance.

The ruling also stated that it needs to be decided whether it’s constitutional to penalize, with taxes, people who do not buy insurance and to require states to expand their Medicaid programs. Judge Vinson set a hearing date for December 16th. The lawsuit will likely wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In his 65 page ruling, Vinson largely agreed with the 20 states and the National Federation of Independent Business, saying Congress was intentionally unclear when it created penalties in the legislation. The states have argued that Congress is overstepping its constitutional authority by penalizing people for not doing something-not buying health insurance.