Missouri's attorney general says federal health care law is unconstitutional

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Intro:	Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed papers in support of a Republican dominated-lawsuit started in Florida challenging the constitutionality of parts of the federal health care law.
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Wrap: Koster's 37-page brief focuses on whether Congress crossed-the-line with federal health care.

His brief challenges the enumerated or promised powers granted to Congress under the United States Constitution.

The federal health care mandate requires individuals to purchase insurance by 2014, which is the main highlight of Koster's document.

Republican House Floor Leader Tim Jones explains that Koster's amicus curae document doesn't have as much impact as some may think.

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Description: "Amicus briefs are filed all the time, they don't carry much water to be honest with you. It's like someone saying, 'yeah, me too'.

Missourians voted and passed Proposition-C last August with around 70-percent support.

Koster became the first state democratic attorney general to support the lawsuit started in Florida.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.

Intro:	Republican House Floor Leader Tim Jones says he's glad Attorney General Chris Koster filed a brief in support of a lawsuit started in Florida challenging the constitutionality of federal health care. However, Jones says it's a little too late.
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Wrap: Koster filed an amicus curae brief Monday which simply shows his support of Florida going head-to-head with the federal health care bill's constitutionality.

Missouri becomes the twenty-seventh state to support Florida's bout with the federal health care mandate.

Jones says he's glad the attorney general decided to support the movement, but April 11th is too late to join the lawsuit.

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Description: "I would have preferred that he would have joined the 26 states back in January or February when the Senate and the House both passed resolutions asking him to do so, following up upon the 72% percent vote by the people."

Koster says he's in support of the expansion of health coverage, but believes the federal health care law oversteps the powers granted to Congress in the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.

Intro:	Missouri's attorney general filed a brief Monday in support of a Florida lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care law. This action makes Attorney General Chris Koster the first state democratic attorney general to endorse Florida's lawsuit.
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Wrap: Koster's 37-page brief states an issue with the federal health care law is the requirement of citizens to purchase health care by 2014.

With Missouri's support, the Show-Me-State becomes the twenty-seventh state to publicly endorse the lawsuit started in Florida.

Koster's brief states that the health care law abuses the powers of Congress under the Commerce Clause in the Constitution.

On the other hand, Democratic Floor Leader Mike Talboy reacts to the attorney general's actions and comments about the Commerce Clause.

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Description: "I don't necessarily agree that the mandate is in violation of the commerce clause; he felt he needed to do it and he felt what he did was necessary."

Talboy says he knows there are Missourians in favor of the federal mandate, but also there are some against it.

He says he expects the lawsuit to end up in the Supreme Court.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.