Wyoming officially joins health care lawsuit
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming and five other states formally joined a multistate lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care legislation.
The additions of Wyoming, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Ohio and Wisconsin means that 26 states — more than half the country — have joined the suit, which asserts that the health care law is unconstitutional and violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance.
Florida U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson could rule later this month on whether he will grant a summary judgment in favor of the states or the Obama administration without a trial.
THIS IS A LOT OF BLUE STATES NOT HAPPY WITH OBAMA SCAREHEALTHSCAREFLAWEDLAW
Government attorneys have said the states do not have standing to challenge the law and want the case dismissed.
Wyoming didn't initially join the lawsuit when it was filed last year, as then-Gov. Dave Freudenthal
said the state didn't need to spend money since it would reap the benefits regardless.
But Gov. Matt Mead added Wyoming to the suit during his first week in office.
The initial cost for Wyoming to join the lawsuit is $1,000. State lawmakers are considering legislation to create a $2 million health care litigation fund, though Mead has previously said he expects the state will only have to pay $10,000 if the case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court.
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