11th Cir. finds healthcare mandate unconstitutional

From Politico:

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ruled that the health care reform law’s requirement that nearly all Americans buy insurance is unconstitutional, a striking blow to the legislation that increases the odds the Supreme Court will choose to review the law.

The panel partially upheld a ruling issued in January by Judge Roger Vinson, who struck down the entire health reform law. However, the 11th Circuit said that the rest of the legislation can stand even if the mandate is unconstitutional.

The panel also said that the law’s expansion of Medicaid is constitutional, ruling against the states.

Read more here.

Michigan A.G. to Continue Health Care Opposition

From Bloomberg:

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says he will continue the state's role in a legal challenge to the federal health care overhaul. Schuette is in his first week as Michigan's attorney general. He said Wednesday he will add his name to the lawsuit challenging the law. That continues a legal strategy from former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Both Schuette and Cox are Republicans.

Attorneys for 20 states are challenging the new federal health care law in a case before a federal court in Florida. The states argue the law violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.

Insurance Companies and Fast Food

So large health and life insurance companies have substantial holdings in . . . fast food? CBS

10 Reasons to Fear the Health-Care Bill

The problems according to Richard Epstein. The Daily Beast