Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on U.S. District Court Ruling on Health Care Act

Statement

Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement regarding U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson's ruling in Virginia that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's individual mandate violates the U.S. Constitution:

"Today's court decision on the federal health care bill is promising news for Texans and all Americans, who have had enough of the ongoing federal intrusion into their lives, and who reject this one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with health care.

"The federal government's attempt to force every American to buy government-approved health insurance is an egregious violation of our Constitutional rights. The 10th Amendment and individual liberties must be protected, and I am committed to fighting the overreach of Obamacare and challenging these unconstitutional mandates, which have gone far beyond both the letter and spirit of the Constitution."

The Commonwealth of Virginia's challenge, as well as Texas' challenge in a separate lawsuit with 19 other states, maintains that Congress does not have the authority to force individuals to buy health insurance. This administration continues to spend excessively and impose unfunded mandates upon the states, including this federal health care reform bill that will cost Texas taxpayers more than $27 billion over 10 years for the Medicaid expansion starting in 2014.

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