DeWine pursues adding Ohio to health reform lawsuit

Newly elected Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine made good on a campaign promise this week by acting on his first day in office to add Ohio to the list of 20 states that have filed suit against the federal government over the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (Source: “Ohio AG Mike DeWine seeks to make Ohio 21st state to sue over health care law,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Jan. 10, 2011).

In a letter to Florida Attorney General Pamela Jo Bondi, DeWine said that the ACA tramples on the rights of Ohio citizens" and is a "huge federal overreach."

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Florida and contends that Congress does not have the Constitutional authority to require individuals to purchase health insurance coverage or face financial penalties.