U.S. Supreme Court justices agreed to review the constitutionality of the administration’s federal healthcare law, known as the Affordable Care Act. The justices plan to hear arguments in the case in March.
The central question is whether Congressional lawmakers exceeded their authority to regulate interstate commerce. Opponents of the law, including 26 states led by Florida, argue that they exceeded that authority by requiring people to buy health insurance even if they don’t want it or else pay a penalty.
“The act is without precedent both in its coercive impositions on the states and in its effort to force individuals to engage in commerce so that the federal government may regulate them,” the 26 states argued in a brief filed by former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement.
The question divided the federal appeals courts. Two upheld the law, a third declared it unconstitutional, and a fourth stated that a definitive ruling would be premature. The case is certain to influence the 2012 presidential campaign.
Given its importance, the Supreme Court justices have scheduled 5 1/2 hours of argument to the case instead of the Court’s usual one-hour argument sessions.
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