Appeals court rejects Va. challenge to federal health-care law

By Sarah Kliff,
WashPost
Thursday, September 8, 11:53 AM

In a surprise move, a three-judge panel of a federal appeals court based in Virginia has tossed out one of the most prominent challenges to the health reform law.

This is the first appeals court to throw out a case for lack of standing after a lower court had ruled on the merits. It leaves the Affordable Care Act with an even scorecard in the courts, with one appeals court ruling in favor of the health-care law’s constitutionality and one against it. Both cases have centered on the law’s individual mandate, which requires nearly all Americans to purchase health insurance beginning in 2014.

With two conflicting rulings on the issue, it’s widely expected that the Supreme Court will take up the case. It will likely issue a decision by next summer.

Most observers had expected the Virginia panel — all Democratic appointees, two of President Obama’s — to rule in favor of the law, supporting the mandated purchase of insurance.

(More here.)