The Obama Administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a request from Virginia Attorney Gen. Ken T. Cuccinelli II (R) that the high court take the unusual step of expediting review of the state's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care law.

A U.S. District Court judge in December found that a requirement in the sweeping health care overhaul that individuals obtain health insurance by 2014 or pay a fine is unconstitutional. The U.S. Justice Department has appealed and Cuccinelli has asked that the Supreme Court take take the case immediately, rather than allowing time for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to weigh in.

The appellate court is scheduled to hear the suit in May.

The Justice Department has indicated publicly that while it supported speeding appellate court review, it believed immediate Supreme Court action was unnecessary given that the individual mandate does not go into affect until 2014.

Read the full Washington Post story, “Obama urges Supreme Court to deny Va.'s request for expedited health care review.”

The Obama Administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a request from Virginia Attorney Gen. Ken T. Cuccinelli II (R) that the high court take the unusual step of expediting review of the state's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care law.

A U.S. District Court judge in December found that a requirement in the sweeping health care overhaul that individuals obtain health insurance by 2014 or pay a fine is unconstitutional. The U.S. Justice Department has appealed and Cuccinelli has asked that the Supreme Court take take the case immediately, rather than allowing time for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to weigh in.

The appellate court is scheduled to hear the suit in May.

The Justice Department has indicated publicly that while it supported speeding appellate court review, it believed immediate Supreme Court action was unnecessary given that the individual mandate does not go into affect until 2014.

Read the full Washington Post story, “Obama urges Supreme Court to deny Va.'s request for expedited health care review.”