Health Care Reform Divide In The Courts

Yet another Federal District Court decision.

A third federal judge upheld the constitutionality of the Obama health care law on Tuesday, reinforcing the divide in the lower courts as the case moves toward its first hearings on the appellate level.

Gladys Kessler of Federal District Court for the District of Columbia became the third appointee of President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, to reject a constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act. Two other federal district judges, both appointed by Republican presidents, have struck down the law’s keystone provision, which requires most Americans to obtain health insurance starting in 2014

The judge also tossed out a claim that the law restricts the exercise of religious freedom. I guess the mandate to buy health insurance doesn’t really conflict with the belief that God provides all. Good.

At this rate, if the case is ever heard by the Supreme Court, the justices will have lots and lots of information from lower court cases to consider.