A new law in Wisconsin prevents recently elected Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul from withdrawing the state from a lawsuit against the ACA, The Hill reports.
Wisconsin is one of two states leading the 20-state lawsuit against the ACA, Texas v. United States. It joined the lawsuit last year under the leadership of former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. The suit claims the ACA's individual mandate became unconstitutional when its penalty was eliminated under the 2017 tax bill, and as an inseverable piece of the law, renders the whole ACA unconstitutional.
Mr. Evers' and Mr. Kaul's campaign platforms both supported withdrawing the state from the lawsuit.
However, the Republican-led state legislature passed a bill to limit the authority of the governor's office last fall, after former Republican Gov. Scott Walker lost the election, according to The Hill. Before the passage of the new law, the state attorney general would have needed approval from the governor and the court to withdraw the state from the lawsuit. Under the new law, the governor also needs approval from the legislature to leave any lawsuit.
Read the full story here.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Lawsuit alleges age discrimination at Texas Children's Hospital
Nebraska children's hospital fires back at surgeons' libel claims
Ex-Florida hospital director admits role in $1B fraud scheme