01.31.11

Hoeven Statement on Today’s Ruling in Florida that the Health Care Law’s Individual Mandate is Unconstitutional

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the decision today by U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson that the individual mandate in the federal health care law is unconstitutional. North Dakota was one of 26 states, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and two individuals who brought the suit.

“This is the second time in as many months that a judge has ruled the federal health care act unconstitutional owing to a provision in the law that would require individuals to buy health care insurance or pay a penalty. Judge Vinson’s decision, moreover, strikes down not only the individual mandate in this case, but the entire law due to its reliance on this provision.

“Today’s decision reinforces the need for the kind of health care reform that empowers people and gives them more choice over their health care insurance and their provider. That means implementing effective tort reform, encouraging competition among health insurance providers across state lines, and reforming Medicare reimbursement to reward quality and make healthcare more affordable and accessible to everyone.”