A federal judge on Monday denied the Obama administration's request to immediately appeal a ruling in House Republicans' lawsuit challenging the administration's implementation of the Affordable Care Act, according to The Hill.
In a 43-page decision released in September, U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer ruled the House had standing to bring its claims alleging the way the Obama administration is paying for part of the ACA violates the Constitution.
The judge ruled that House Republicans can challenge the spending of "billions of unappropriated dollars" to support the healthcare law. House Republicans have argued the Obama administration overstepped its powers when it began paying health insurance companies billions of dollars — that were requested but never approved by Congress — for discounts on deductibles they offer to low-income consumers under the ACA.
Strongly opposing the judge's ruling, the Obama administration asked to immediately appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. On Monday, Judge Collyer denied the administration's request.
Although Judge Collyer allowed the case to proceed, she is yet to rule on the substance of the lawsuit. In denying the Obama administration's request, Judge Collyer said the appeals court "will be best served by reviewing a complete record" on both the standing issue and the substance of the case, according to The Hill.
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