Friday, August 12, 2011

Isakson Statement on 11th Circuit Ruling on Health Care Law
Strikes Down Individual Mandate Requiring Americans to Purchase Insurance or Face Fines

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today praised the ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta declaring the individual mandate included in President Obama's health care law unconstitutional. The judges stated that the individual mandate represents "potentially unbounded assertion of congressional authority" by requiring Americans to purchase a product.

"Americans across the country are outraged by the individual mandate in President Obama's health care law because the concept of the government forcing people to purchase a product or pay a fine is unprecedented and wrong. Now the 11th Circuit Court has declared it unconstitutional," said Isakson. "This ruling is a step in the right direction, but the fight is not over. The individual mandate is just one of the many problems with this terribly flawed health care law, and I will continue to fight to repeal the entire law every single day."

Isakson has strongly opposed the health care law that was passed by Congress and signed by the President last year and has co-sponsored legislation in the Senate to repeal the law in its entirety. Isakson also was one of 44 senators to file an amicus brief on May 11, 2011, with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the bipartisan, multi-state challenge to the Obama health care law.