Federal court upholds constitutionality of health care tax News
Federal court upholds constitutionality of health care tax

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals [official website] on Friday ruled against [opinion] Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine [official website] in his state’s challenge to the certain tax aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The lawsuit, brought on behalf of several state subdivisions, alleged that the federal government tax on health insurance providers and certain self-insuring employers encroached on the states’ independence in violation of the 10th Amendment. The parties included such state universities as Youngstown State and Akron [official websites], and demanded repayment to the state of all taxes applied against such entities. The 6th Circuit affirmed the district court’s finding “that the Program applies to state and local government employers just as it applies to private employers, and that the Program as applied to Ohio does not violate the Tenth Amendment.”

Trump promised to repeal the ACA while on the campaign trail, and made his first efforts [JURIST report] to do so immediately after being sworn into office. The Senate had prepared for the repealing of the ACA last month when it voted [JURIST report] 51-48 to prevent the process from being subject to a filibuster. Earlier this month, Professor James Hodge, Jr. discussed the possibility of repealing and replacing the ACA.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.