Las Vegas Sun

April 16, 2024

Report: Gibbons will join lawsuit over health care reform

Gov. Jim Gibbons plans to have Nevada join a lawsuit in Florida over the federal health care reform law.

Sun columnist Jon Ralston reported late this morning that Gibbons will say a Nevada statute prohibiting him from taking action doesn't apply if the state joins the lawsuit filed in Florida.

Ralston said the official announcement was expected to be made Tuesday.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto rejected the request of Gibbons to file suit with other states challenging the constitutionality of the health reform bill signed by the president.

In a letter to the governor, she said the “authority given to Congress is extensive and appears strong enough to support the act.”

“In my professional judgment, joining the litigation filed by 14 other states, as you have suggested, is not warranted by existing law at this time,” she wrote.

The governor responded saying he was considering his options to move forward with legal action on behalf of the state.

“I am disappointed the attorney general has refused to fight for the rights of Nevada citizens,” Gibbons said in a statement. “I swore an oath to protect Nevada citizens and that is exactly what I intend to do.”

Gibbons said attorneys have contacted the his office willing to represent Nevada without charge.

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