Report: Va. Judge to Issue Ruling in Obamacare Challenge

ABC News reports that a federal judge in Virginia could issue a ruling Monday in a lawsuit opposing the Affordable Care Act, the federal overhaul of health care. The ruling could affect a similar case being led in Florida but joined by several other states.

Virginia is challenging the constitutionality of the federal law's provision that penalizes those who do not obtain health insurance. The Obama administration contends the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution gives it the power to make such a law.

The lawsuits differ in that Virginia has an existing law prohibiting the forced purchase of health insurance and the Florida lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the law more broadly. Florida legislators filed bills last week aimed at opting out of the penalities for not obtaining health insurance.