Gov. Butch Otter just went on Fox News to talk about how Idaho has joined 12 other states in a lawsuit filed this morning in federal district court in Florida, challenging federal health care reform. Otter called it "an unconstitutional mandate that it forces on all 50 states including my own," and said, "The sovereignty of the state of Idaho is very important to us, as is the sovereignty of the citizens of the state of Idaho, and it should be in every state."

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden joined the attorneys general of Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington and South Dakota in the lawsuit.

“Our complaint alleges the new law infringes upon the constitutional rights of Idahoans and residents of the other states by mandating all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage or pay a tax penalty,” Attorney General Wasden said.   “The law exceeds the powers of the United States under Article I of the Constitution and violates the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.  Additionally, the tax penalty required under the law constitutes an unlawful direct tax in violation of Article I, sections 2 and 9 of the Constitution."

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