government
Arizona group sues to bar health reform law
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 23, 2010
The Goldwater Institute, a conservative watchdog group, has sued to block the national health system reform law on behalf of a small-business man and more than 30 state and federal lawmakers from Arizona.
The Aug. 12 lawsuit is the latest attempt to prevent Americans from being required to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty, a provision of the health reform law taking effect in 2014. "This is the most overbearing and intrusive way possible to try to address America's rising health care costs," Clint Bolick, litigation director for the Goldwater Institute, said in a statement.
The lawsuit's lead plaintiff, Nick Coons of Tempe, Ariz., owns a computer consulting and servicing company and is the Libertarian candidate for Arizona's 5th congressional district. He said he wants to continue to pay for health care out of his own pocket.
"Is a stranger who works for the government in some other part of the country really going to know what I need?" Coons asked.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Arizona and names President Obama, Treasury Dept. Secretary Tim Geithner, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as defendants.
Coons is joined in the lawsuit by Arizona Republican Reps. Jeff Flake, Trent Franks, and John Shadegg and 29 state legislators. At least 21 states have filed or joined other lawsuits against the health reform law. Information about the latest lawsuit is online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/08/23/gvbf0823.htm.