Republican-Appointed Majority Federal Judicial Panel Finds In Favor Of Health Care Reform—A Victory For The Power Of The Federal Government Over The States

A federal court panel with a majority of Republican-appointed judges has found in favor of the constitutionality of Health Care Reform.

From CNN—

A federal appeals court in Cincinnati has ruled in favor of the Obama administration and Congress, ruling a key provision in the sweeping health care reform bill passed last year was constitutional. The “individual mandate” requiring nearly all Americans purchase health insurance by 2014 or face financial penalties — was challenged in federal courts by a large number of individuals and groups, saying people should not be forced to purcha a product like health insurance. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit panel disagreed. “We find that the minimum coverage provision is a valid exercise of legislative power by Congress under the Commerce Clause,” said the three-judge panel on Wednesday, in a 64-page opinion…A key part of the ruling was written by Judge Jeffrey Sutton — a President George W. Bush — appointee and considered a conservative on the court.

While there is still a long way to go in this matter, today’s ruling is a strong victory for Health Care Reform and for the supremacy of the federal government over the states.