US House requests delay of health care appeal News
US House requests delay of health care appeal

The US House of Representatives [official website] submitted a motion [text, PDF] on Monday to request the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] delay any further action on the appeal of the district court ruling against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) [text, PDF]. In May a judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor [JURIST report] of House Republicans in a challenge to the ACA. The House motion to the court suggested that,

In light of public statements by the President-elect and his campaign, there is at least a significant possibility of a meaningful change in policy in the new administration that could either obviate the need for resolution of this appeal or affect the nature and scope of the issues presented for review.

The motion requested a delay until as late as February 21.

The ACA [JURIST backgrounder] has generated legal controversy and a series of court challenges since its passage. This lawsuit was filed in 2014, and Collyer allowed it proceed [JURIST reports] last fall. In January the US Congress sent a bill to repeal the ACA to President Barrack Obama, which he vetoed [JURIST report]. The National Conference of State Legislatures [official website] reports that between 2010 and 2015, at least 21 states have enacted laws attempting to challenge or completely opt out of mandatory provisions of the ACA.