By SAM HANANEL
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the Obama administration is unconstitutionally spending federal money to fund the president’s health care law.
The ruling Thursday from U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer is a win for House Republicans who brought the politically charged legal challenge.
At stake is $175 billion the government is paying to reimburse health insurers over a decade to reduce co-payments for lower-income people.
The House argues that Congress never specifically appropriated that money and has denied an administration request for it, but that the administration is spending the money anyway.
Collyer issued an order stopping further reimbursements, but delayed its implementation while the case is appealed.
Collyer is a George W. Bush appointee nominated in 2002.