Federal judge dismisses senator's lawsuit over PPACA

U.S. District Judge William Griesbach has dismissed the lawsuit Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) filed contesting the provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that requires Congress members and their staffs to only enroll in health plans created under the PPACA or offered on the health insurance exchanges, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Sen. Johnson filed the lawsuit in January. He claimed the contested provision of the healthcare law required him to participate in a program that he believed was illegal. Sen. Johnson also said the provision would cause some voters to have a negative perception of him since his staff received health insurance subsidies and the general public did not, according to the report.

Judge Griesbach dismissed the case on the basis that Sen. Johnson and the staff member that filed the lawsuit alongside him did not have grounds to bring the lawsuit. The judge said Sen. Johnson's belief that providing subsidies to members of Congress and their staffs is illegal was not enough to substantiate a lawsuit. Judge Griesbach also said the senator failed to provide sufficient evidence to show voters would have a negative view of him if his staff received subsidies for their health insurance.

"Americans increasingly — and correctly — believe that their government in Washington is out of control, out of touch and lawless," said Sen. Johnson in a statement. "By its decision today, the court has chosen not to address the important constitutional issues at hand."

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