Judge Denies Injunction Seeking To Change What Washington Attorney General Argues On Health Law
A judge denied requests that would have made Attorney General Rob McKenna tell the Supreme Court what he's said publicly, that parts of the federal health care law should stand minus the individual mandate.
The Seattle Times: Judge Denies Injunction In Health Care Lawsuit Against McKenna
A judge dealt an initial defeat Tuesday morning to plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna violated his ethical duties while participating in the multi-state lawsuit seeking to overturn President Obama's health care overhaul. King County Superior Court Judge Sharon Armstrong denied a request for a preliminary injunction sought by plaintiffs which would have required McKenna to change his legal tune in the case by filing amended briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court. The plaintiffs, dozens of women represented by attorneys allied with the Democratic Party, had argued McKenna should be required to argue to the Supreme Court what he has said publicly -- that the entire Affordable Care Act should not be struck down if the high court invalidates its controversial requirement that most adults maintain private health insurance (Brunner, 5/29).
MSNBC: Judge Denies Injunction Against McKenna’s Health Care Lawsuit
McKenna, a GOP candidate for governor, joined other GOP attorneys general in the federal health care lawsuit more than two years ago. He said that mandate was unconstitutional, though he supported other parts of the federal overhaul. The women's lawsuit targeted his efforts to overturn the whole law -- not just the part he disagrees with (5/29).
In Iowa, a fight is brewing over who may assist Iowans in finding health insurance coverage after the governor signed a bill requiring that health insurance "navigators" be licensed.
CQ HealthBeat: Iowa Governor Signs Law Requiring Exchange Navigator Licensing
Iowa's governor approved legislation late last week that AARP Iowa says is a "premature" and "backdoor" way of hampering the activities of whatever health insurance exchange the state eventually creates. Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, on May 25 signed into law a budget bill that includes a provision saying that the so-called navigators who will assist Iowans in finding health insurance coverage and advice must be licensed by the state under standards similar to those of insurance agents or brokers. Such navigators are required to work in tandem with state exchanges under the health care overhaul law (Norman, 5/29).