[Chicago Tribune] A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Obama administration is unconstitutionally spending federal money to fund the president's health care law.The ruling from U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer is a win for House Republicans who brought the politically charged legal challenge in an effort to undermine the law.
At stake is $175 billion the government is paying over a decade to reimburse health insurers for reducing co-payments for lower-income people.
The House argued that Congress never specifically appropriated that money and has denied the administration's request for it. It says the administration is spending the money anyway, exceeding its constitutional authority. The administration has said it is using other, previously approved money.