Appeals Court Hears Challenge To Health Care Law

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Texas doctor's challenge to President Obama's health care overhaul is before a federal appeals court in New Orleans.

Tuesday's arguments at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals center on the contention that the law is unconstitutional because it imposes a tax — and all tax bills must originate in the House. The lawsuit contends that the law originated in the Senate.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas rejected that argument in January. She said that raising revenue was not the overarching purpose of the bill. She also noted that the bill did start in the House, although it was stripped of its original language in the Senate.

Atlas also rejected the argument that the law violates the Fifth Amendment by forcing people to buy insurance.

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