Gov. Jim Gibbons has signed an executive order for Nevada to join 14 other states suing the federal government over health care reform.

The Republican governor on Tuesday said the state would be represented by Las Vegas lawyer Mark Hutchison.

Democratic Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto refused an earlier directive from Gibbons to join the multistate challenge to the health bill passed by Congress and signed by President Obama.

Gibbons says the measure will cost Nevada taxpayers $2.4 billion in additional state and federal taxes.

Hutchison says Nevada's objections to the law will be similar to other states.

But he says the suit will be stronger with Nevada taking part.

Masto has said any outcome would apply to Nevada whether it joins the suit or not.