February 9, 2011
President Barack Obama
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The undersigned governors hereby express our strong support for an expedited appeal of the Virginia and Florida health care lawsuits recently decided in favor of the states. We respectfully ask that you direct the United States Department of Justice to support an expedited appellate process for each case to reach the United States Supreme Court as soon as possible in order to resolve the significant constitutional issues presented, which we all agree are of national importance.
Regardless of our respective positions on the merits of the policies in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), every state faces significant challenges and expenses implementing PPACA over the next several years. Additionally, there is little doubt that the cases will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. This request for expedited review takes no position on PPACA, but seeks only to obtain the Supreme Court’s final determination as soon as possible.
Given the daunting and costly financial and regulatory burdens that our states and the private sector will face in implementing PPACA over the coming years, particularly during this unprecedented budgetary time, public interest requires expediting a final resolution of the litigation to give certainty as soon as possible. We should not endure years of litigation in the circuit courts, when the Supreme Court can promptly provide finality. This resolution can help prevent the states and the private sector from undertaking potentially unnecessary measures and expenses. More importantly, our businesses, health care providers, and citizens of our great nation need to know as soon as possible whether all or part of the law will be upheld or stricken, so they know their options and obligations.
To that end, we respectfully ask that you promptly support an expedited appellate process for each of the pending cases to achieve quick resolution by the United States Supreme Court and to encourage the United States Department of Justice to join these efforts.
Thank you for your consideration and prompt attention to this important national matter.
Sincerely,
Governor Robert Bentley, Alabama
Governor Sean Parnell, Alaska
Governor Janice K. Brewer, Arizona
Governor Rick Scott, Florida
Governor Nathan Deal, Georgia
Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter, Idaho
Governor Terry E. Brandstad, Iowa
Governor Mitch Daniels, Indiana
Governor Sam Brownback, Kansas
Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana
Governor Paul R. LePage, Maine
Governor Rick Snyder, Michigan
Governor Haley Barbour, Mississippi
Governor Brian Sandoval, Nevada
Governor David Heineman, Nebraska
Governor Chris Christie, New Jersey
Governor Susana Martinez, New Mexico
Governor John R. Kasich, Ohio
Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina
Governor Bill Haslam, Tennessee
Governor Gary R. Herbert, Utah
Governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin
Governor Jack Dalrymple, North Dakota
Governor Tom Corbett, Pennsylvania
Governor Dennis Daugaard, South Dakota
Governor Rick Perry, Texas
Governor Robert F. McDonnell, Virginia
Governor Matthew H. Mead, Wyoming
(This letter was reprinted with permission from Hutchison & Steffen, Las Vegas, Nevada. – Ed.)
