More than half a dozen states suing to overturn President Barack Obama’s health care law – including Idaho – are also claiming its subsidies for covering retired state government employees.
About 2,000 employers have been approved for the extra help to cover early retirees, mainly private businesses.
But a list released by the administration also includes seven states suing to overturn the health care overhaul as an unconstitutional power grab by the federal government. The seven are Idaho, Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada.
They are part of a group of 20 states that have challenged the law’s requirement for most Americans to carry health insurance or face fines from the IRS. They argue that government cannot order individuals to buy a particular product.
The administration counters that the mandate falls within broad powers conferred on Congress to regulate interstate commerce.
The list of employers who have expressed an interest in the subsidies includes about half the Fortune 500 companies, as well as state and local governments, educational institutions, unions and nonprofit organizations.
A total of 16 states have been approved, and more are expected to apply. (AP)
