Judge: States must continue with health overhaul

The Associated Press
Posted: 03/03/2011 11:27:58 AM MST

PENSACOLA, Fla.—A federal judge in Florida says states must continue implementing the president's health care overhaul even though he has declared it unconstitutional.

Florida and 25 states sued to block the law, and District Judge Roger Vinson has ruled in their favor.

He says Obama administration attorneys have one week to appeal. If they don't meet that deadline, Vinson says the states can consider the law invalid.

The case is one of several challenges to the health care law, which is almost certain to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In his ruling, Vinson says it's in the best interest of the nation to continue with the massive health overhaul while the cases work their way through the legal system.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/nationworld/ci_17530473