Pennsylvania Governor joins other governors to help defend national health care act

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today released the following letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, in which he and the governors of Washington, Michigan and Colorado offer to help defend the national health care act signed into law this week by President Obama:

March 26, 2010

The Honorable Eric Holder, Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20530-0001

RE: State of Florida, et al v. United States

Dear Attorney General Holder:

On behalf of citizens of our states, we write to let you know that that we oppose the actions of the state Attorneys General who have filed a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. We believe their legal efforts will fail in court, unnecessarily delay the urgent need to get our citizens access to health care and waste our state tax dollars.  As you prepare and deliver your defense of this landmark legislation, you have our commitment to work with you, at your request, to assist in this effort.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is, in our view, the single most important reform of our health care system in decades. The bill gives American families and small business owners more control over their own health care. It shifts health care decision making authority away from insurance companies to the citizens whose health is at risk. It ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions and allows young people to remain covered by their parents' insurance until age twenty-six. As our states struggle to balance budgets and maintain services, the savings introduced through this legislation are critical to our future.

We are ready to offer you any help you many need and we will stand by your efforts to protect this most historic improvement of health care for every citizen of this nation.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Governor Christine O. Gregoire, Washington

Governor Bill Ritter Jr., Colorado

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, Michigan

Governor Edward G. Rendell, Pennsylvania