Circuit Court strikes down part of health care law

The Atlanta-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that the government mandate in President Obama's health care law that requires all American to buy insurance is unconstitutional. The court upheld the rest of the law.

Twenty-six states filed a joint lawsuit, arguing that the individual mandate reaches beyond the powers of federal government in the Constitution. The portion struck down by the court would impose fines on citizens above a certain income level who do not purchase health insurance starting in 2014.

"This economic mandate represents a wholly novel and potentially unbounded assertion of congressional authority: the ability to compel Americans to purchase an expensive health insurance product they have elected not to buy, and to make them re-purchase that insurance product every month for their entire lives," the court's majority opinion read.

The 2-1 ruling contrasts with an earlier ruling from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. Three courts have now ruled against the law, while three others have ruled for it. Its fate will likely be decided in the U.S. Supreme Court.

You can read the full opinion here:Florida et al v. Dept. Of Health & Human Services et al