Ohio AG joins fight against health-care overhaul

January 10, 2011 at 4:50p.m.

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s new attorney general is requesting that the state be added to a lawsuit challenging the new federal health care law.

Seeking to fulfill a campaign promise, Republican Mike DeWine today sent a letter to Florida’s attorney general requesting to join the 20 other states involved in the lawsuit. It was filed in federal district court in Florida.

The states have asked the judge to throw out the health-care law without a full trial. They argue it violates people’s rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.

DeWine told The Associated Press that he’s joining the suit because he believes the health-care overhaul is unconstitutional and infringes on the rights of Ohioans.

DeWine was sworn in on Sunday.