Governor McDonnell Comments on Supreme Court’s Decision to Hear Obama Care Case

Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement today regarding the Supreme Court of the United States decision to hear arguments on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“Across the country, courts continue to rule on cases challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care law, with differing conclusions coming from several circuits.  Whether a federal mandate on every citizen to purchase health insurance violates the U.S. Constitution is a question that ultimately must be decided by the United States Supreme Court.  That is why, nine months ago, Virginia requested that these suits be expedited for resolution by our nation’s highest court.  We are pleased that the Supreme Court has announced they will hear arguments from six of these cases during the current term. 

I have long argued that this is an issue that will have an enormous impact on states, and one that demands finality as soon as possible. Each day that these cases remain unresolved means that states must spend more time and money to prepare for the expensive and burdensome requirements of the health care law, while uncertainty looms over its constitutionality. 

Today’s news that the Supreme Court will hear arguments, possibly as soon as March, is reassuring news that we will soon reach finality on this critically important issue. I am confident that the court will find that the act does overreach and is unconstitutional. I thank the U.S. Supreme Court for agreeing to hear arguments on the federal health care law during this current term.”