Federal judge in Detroit rejects challenge to key provisions of new national health-care law

Mich. judge rejects challenge to health-care law

DETROIT — A federal judge in Detroit has rejected an attempt to stop some provisions of the new national health-care law.

Judge George Caram Steeh says Congress didn’t exceed its authority by requiring people to have insurance by 2014. He also turned down a challenge Thursday to the financial penalty for not having insurance.

The Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor and four people filed a lawsuit in March, calling the law unconstitutional.

The judge says lawmakers intended to lower the overall cost of health insurance by requiring participation. Steeh says Congress didn’t run afoul of the Constitution’s commerce clause.

A message seeking comment was left with the Thomas More center.

Last month, a federal judge in Florida said he’s likely to let at least some of separate lawsuit by 20 states go to trial.