- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Miami and help keep the future of New Times free.
Judge Roger Vinson, a Republican-appointed Federal judge from the North Florida District, has ruled a portion of the recent Democratic penned health care overhaul unconstitutional. In particular Vinson has ruled that the provision the mandates all Americans be covered by health insurance by 2014 or face paying a fine is against the constitution. The suit was originally filed by former Attorney General Bill McCollum who was joined by 26 other republican state Attorney Generals.
"It is hereby
DECLARED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that The Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act, Pub. L. No. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119 (2010), as amended by the Health
Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-152, 124 Stat.
1029 (2010), is unconstitutional," reads Vinson's ruling.
"This conclusion is reached with full appreciation for the "normal rule" that reviewing courts should ordinarily refrain from invalidating more than the unconstitutional part of a statute, but non-severability is required based on the unique facts of this case and the particular aspects of the Act," Vinson admitted in the ruling.
Keep Miami New Times Free... Since we started Miami New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Miami with no paywalls.