Eighth Circuit hears health law arguments

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Thursday regarding whether a health law legal challenge brought by two Missouri residents should be revived.

Kaiser Health News/Minnesota Public Radio.: It's A Federal Case
Legal challenges to President Barack Obama's federal health care law are percolating around the nation, and one of them had a major court date Thursday in Minnesota. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit heard arguments in St. Paul on whether to revive a lawsuit brought by two Missouri residents" (Stawicki, 10/20). 

Meanwhile, the push for Supreme Court action sooner rather than later continues:

The Wall Street Journal: Health Care Bill Opponents Eye March For Top Court Hearing
A small-business group opposed to the Obama administration's health care overhaul hopes the Supreme Court will hear the case in March, rather than schedule it in April, the last month the justices will hold arguments in their current term (Loten and Bravin, 10/20).

And one senator offers his take on the law's individual mandate:

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Sen. Casey Hopes Supremes Uphold Health Care Law
(Pennsylvania Sen. Bob) Casey hopes civic-minded and long-term bottom-line-oriented business people and citizens will give the new health care law a chance to prove its worth. He said he also hopes the Supreme Court does not strike down the law entirely or the provision requiring people to buy health insurance. That provision spreads the risk and cost among more citizens. "If that were to happen, we'd be back at square one," Casey said of needing a national health care plan because the current one is unsustainable because of the costs (Sell, 10/20).