U.S. Congressman John Boozman 3rd District of Arkansas

When President Obama signed legislation overhauling our health care system, states and organizations were quick to challenge the mandates of the law. I encouraged Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel to join the lawsuit because I am concerned the law is an overreach of government and unconstitutional. 

In recent months we’ve seen the first rulings by federal judges. Just yesterday, a federal judge in Michigan upheld a key provision of the health care law- the individual mandate that requires us all to buy health insurance or face a penalty. 

While this ruling is disappointing there are more than 15 other lawsuits challenging some aspect of the law that have moved forward. In August, a federal judge refused to dismiss a Virginia lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the federal health-care law. This is a good sign.  

We aren’t waiting for the courts to rule on the constitutionality of the law, rather we are working to repeal this flawed legislation in order to provide solutions that will contain costs and offer Americans quality, affordable health care. That’s why I’ve signed The Club for Growth’s Repeal It! pledge and signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 4903 and H.R. 4972, legislation that would repeal the law. 

Efforts are underway not only to repeal, but also to defund this law. Congress holds the ‘power of the purse’ so it can cut off taxpayer dollars to agencies that will issue regulations and oversee the program. 

I remain committed to fighting for affordable and effective health care reform and will continue to offer solutions for real health reform through free market principles.