Missouri AG Challenges Obamacare

A Democratic attorney general is now pressing a federal court to strike down a key portion of Obamacare. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a “friend of the court” brief challenging the constitutionality of the provision requiring people obtain health insurance, The New York Times reports.

Koster has served in the state legislature as a Republican before switching parties in 2007. He had been under pressure from state lawmakers to join the suit brought by 26 states now before the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. A Missouri referendum was passed by a three to one margin last year opposing the health care law, the Times said.

In a letter to GOP leaders, Koster said that while he supports an expansion of health care coverage his duty is to the law, calling the individual mandate “a substantial blow to federalism and personal freedom.”

“If Congress can force activity under the Commerce Clause, then it could force individuals to receive vaccinations or annual checkups, undergo mammogram or prostate exams or maintain a specific body mass,” he wrote according to the Times.

Koster is up for re-election next year. He was criticized by both parties when he switched allegiance before announcing his run for attorney general. Critics dubbed him Koster the Imposter, according to the Times.