More than 115 House Republicans have signed an amicus, or friend-of-the-court, brief filed by the American Center for Law and Justice asking the Supreme Court to declare the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, according to an ACLJ news release.
The brief argues that the law cannot operate without the individual mandate. "The unconstitutional individual mandate is the essential component of the ACA's reforms to the health insurance and healthcare markets, as the federal government has conceded. Congress would not have passed the ACA absent the individual mandate. Without the individual mandate, the ACA's remaining provisions cannot function properly. Thus, the unconstitutional individual mandate is not severable from the ACA, and the entire Act must be invalidated," wrote the group in the report.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on March 26-28.
Supreme Court Sets Schedule for Briefs in Healthcare Reform Case
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Challenge to Health Reform Law
The brief argues that the law cannot operate without the individual mandate. "The unconstitutional individual mandate is the essential component of the ACA's reforms to the health insurance and healthcare markets, as the federal government has conceded. Congress would not have passed the ACA absent the individual mandate. Without the individual mandate, the ACA's remaining provisions cannot function properly. Thus, the unconstitutional individual mandate is not severable from the ACA, and the entire Act must be invalidated," wrote the group in the report.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on March 26-28.
Related Articles on Healthcare Reform:
Supreme Court to Hear Healthcare Reform Arguments March 26-28Supreme Court Sets Schedule for Briefs in Healthcare Reform Case
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Challenge to Health Reform Law