Healthcare: It May Be Law but Is It Legal?

ACLJ to Back Lawsuits by States Challenging Constitutionality of Healthcare Law

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2010—President Obama's signature has ended the legislative process around a nationalized healthcare plan, but the litigation process is just getting started.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) is backing legal challenges by a number of states - including Virginia and Florida - to the new healthcare law.  The ACLJ says it will file amicus briefs on behalf of thousands of its supporters in the lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the healthcare law.

"This healthcare law is a constitutionally flawed measure that we believe ultimately will be rejected by the courts," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ.  "The individual mandate - forcing Americans to purchase health insurance under penalty of law - violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.  Most Americans do not want this plan.  That includes millions of pro-life Americans who don't want to be forced to purchase a healthcare package that funds abortion.  We support the litigation being initiated by a number of states and plan to file amicus briefs in those cases representing thousands of our members.  This healthcare law should not be forced upon the American people.  We believe the courts will agree."

The ACLJ, which has heard from nearly 500,000 Americans in recent months opposing the pro-abortion, government-run healthcare plan signed into law, says it has a comprehensive litigation strategy.  In addition to filing friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the states, the ACLJ will be filing federal lawsuits on behalf of its individual members around the country.

Sekulow added, "These legal challenges will be numerous and occur in many jurisdictions.  The constitutional issues at stake are significant and it's likely this will end up before the Supreme Court of the United States."

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.  The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org.  The ACLJ's online newsroom can be accessed at www.DeMossNews.com/aclj.

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