Congress passed the final bit of legislation regarding health care reform late last week, and President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law on Tuesday. The fixes addressed several components of the legislation, including delaying to 2018 the start of a new tax on high-cost employer-sponsored insurance policies and increasing the Medicare payroll tax for high-income individuals that will take effect in 2013 and help pay for the legislation, according to the New York Times.
Several states' attorneys general have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new law, with Indiana's attorney general the latest, bringing the total to 13, according to The Courier-Journal.
From the story:
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, will be amended to include new legal arguments and to add Indiana and possible other states, (Indiana) Attorney General Greg Zoeller said. ...The lawsuit challenges whether the law's requirements that individuals buy insurance policies and that states expand Medicaid and create other health care options violates the U.S. Constitution.
The National Restaurant Association and restaurant owners, including franchisees, are concerned about the law's impact on the industry. Some chains, such as Subway, have followed the legislation's progress for its national menu labeling provision because it would mean stores will have one, national regulation to follow instead of rules for a few states and communities. Other operators who don't offer health insurance are concerned the added expense of having to contribute to employees' coverage may add too much of a financial burden, especially in light of the impact of the recession.
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