From the Governor

Statement of Governor Bob McDonnell on Attorney General’s Decision to Seek Expedited Review of Health Care Suit in Supreme Court

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement this morning regarding Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s decision to seek an expedited review of the Virginia health care lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the United States.

“Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is taking the proper and necessary step in seeking an expedited review of the Virginia health care lawsuit. Immediately following Judge Henry Hudson’s December decision that the individual mandate component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, I contacted my fellow governors to seek their support for this course of action. Regardless of where one stands on the issue of the federal health care law, it is imperative that the constitutionality of the matter be settled expeditiously. States, businesses and individuals are already incurring expenses of time and money as they seek to understand and prepare for the implementation of this unprecedented law in 2014. That preparation is taking place at the same time that recent court decisions in both Virginia and Florida are calling into question whether or not this law can withstand judicial review. It is a confusing situation, and there must be clarity and finality on such an important national issue. That finality will only be achieved through a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States. All other court decisions and reviews prior to that moment will serve simply to exacerbate the uncertainty and continue the delay.

I thank the Attorney General for moving forward with this action. The Virginia health care case must be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States at the earliest date possible.”