Kinder files suit to stop federal government takeover of health care

Mo. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has made good on his pledge from earlier this year, to file a legal challenge to Congress's overhaul of America's health care system. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday morning in a federal court in Cape Girardeau, accuses the federal government of overstepping its authority and trampling on state sovereignty.

Kinder contends that an act of Congress cannot force people to buy a product nor demand that state officials enforce a "federal scheme."

In April, Kinder told the Newsmagazine Network that he would be challenging the legality of President Obama's health care law.  Initially, Kinder planned to join nearly two dozen other states in a lawsuit filed by the Florida attorney general. Instead, he gathered private donations for legal fees, and sued in his personal and official capacity with three other Missourians. Kinder expressed hope that the case will end up before the Supreme Court before most of the proposed law is takes effect, in 2014.

"Missouri, like many other states, is cash-strapped and cannot afford the huge financial burden of this bill," Kinder said. "With this lawsuit, we are fighting to protect the freedoms and pocketbooks of Missourians."

The action corresponds with the Health Care Freedom Act proposition that offers Missouri voters the chance to repeal the most controversial portions of the health care overhaul. That initiative will appear on the ballot on Aug 3.