Va. set to challenge federal health-care reform legislation [View All]

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031703593.html?hpid=topnews

Virginia will file a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the Democratic health-care reform bill if Congress approves the measure, a spokesman for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II said Wednesday.

Cuccinelli (R), a social and fiscal conservative who has expressed deep skepticism about the growth of the federal government, has said since his fall election campaign that he was studying the legal issues involved in such a suit. His spokesman said Wednesday that Cuccinelli has decided he will challenge the measure.

The announcement came two days before President Obama is scheduled to visit Fairfax County to hold a final rally in support of the health-care bill before the congressional vote. Last week, Virginia became the first state to pass a bill declaring it illegal for the government to require individuals to purchase health insurance, a key component of the bills under consideration on Capitol Hill.

Cuccinelli's spokesman Brian Gottstein would provide no details on the legal rationale for such a suit and indicated the office is studying the issue.