IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

PENSACOLA DIVISION

STATE OF FLORIDA, by and )

 through BILL McCOLLUM, et al., )

)

Plaintiffs, )

)

 v. ) Case No. 3:10-cv-91-RV/EMT

)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT )

 OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )

 SERVICES, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

ANSWER TO AMENDED COMPLAINT

Defendants, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Kathleen Sebelius, in

her official capacity as Secretary of Health and Human Services; the U.S. Department of the

Treasury; Timothy F. Geithner, in his official capacity as Secretary of the Treasury; the U.S.

Department of Labor; and Hilda L. Solis, in her official capacity as Secretary of Labor, by

undersigned counsel, hereby answer Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint as follows:

NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. This paragraph contains characterizations of this lawsuit and conclusions of law,

not allegations of fact, and thus no response is required. To the extent a response is deemed

necessary, denied except to admit that Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief.

2. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied.

3. This paragraph contains characterizations of this lawsuit and conclusions of law,

not allegations of fact, and thus no response is required. To the extent a response is deemed

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 1 of 13
necessary, denied.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

4. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied.

5. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied except to admit that

Defendants are agencies of the United States or officers thereof acting in their official capacity.

PARTIES

 6–25. These paragraphs contain conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied except to admit that

Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Alabama, Louisiana, Michigan, Colorado,

Pennsylvania, Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Indiana, North Dakota, Mississippi, Arizona,

Nevada, Georgia, and Alaska are States in the United States of America.

 26–28. Defendants lack sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations in these paragraphs.

29. Denied except to admit that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is

an agency of the United States and is responsible for administering certain provisions of the

Affordable Care Act.

30. Admitted.

31. Denied except to admit that the U.S. Department of the Treasury is an agency of

the United States and is responsible for administering certain provisions of the Affordable Care

Act.

32. Admitted.

2

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 2 of 13
33. Denied except to admit that the U.S. Department of Labor is an agency of the

United States and is responsible for administering certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

34. Admitted.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

35. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

characterization of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. No. 111-148, 124

Stat. 119 (Mar. 23, 2010), amended by Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,

Pub. L. No. 111-152, 124 Stat. 1029 (Mar. 30, 2010) (the “Affordable Care Act” or the “Act”),

which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the Court to the Act for a complete and accurate

statement of its contents.

36. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the

Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents.

37. Denied except to admit that in August 1994 the Congressional Budget Office

issued a memorandum titled “The Budgetary Treatment of an Individual Mandate to Buy Health

Insurance,” to which Defendants respectfully refer the Court for a complete and accurate

statement of its contents.

38. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied.

39. Admitted.

3

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 3 of 13
40. Denied except to admit that, since the beginning of Medicaid, States have retained

considerable discretion to implement and operate their respective Medicaid programs in

accordance with State-specific designs regarding eligibility, enrollment, and administration,

provided that they satisfy the conditions Congress has prescribed. Defendants separately aver

that, under the Affordable Care Act, participating States will continue to retain similar discretion

to implement and operate their respective Medicaid programs.

41. Denied except to admit that a State’s participation in the Medicaid program has

always been, and continues to be, entirely voluntary.

42. Denied.

43. The first sentence of this paragraph is denied. The second sentence contains

conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no response is required. To the extent a

response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any characterization of the Affordable Care Act,

which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the Court to the Act for a complete and accurate

statement of its contents.

44. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the

Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents.

45. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the

Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents.

4

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 4 of 13
46. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the

Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents.

47. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the

Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents.

48. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the

Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents.

49. Denied.

50. The first sentence and the first part of the second sentence (preceding the

semicolon) are denied except to admit that the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2008 Current Population

Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, estimated that there were 3,641,933

uninsured individuals in Florida in 2007. The second part of the second sentence (following the

semicolon) contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no response is required. 

To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any characterization of the

Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the Court to the Act for a

complete and accurate statement of its contents.

51. Defendants lack sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations in the first and second sentences. The third sentence is denied.

5

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 5 of 13
52. With respect to the first sentence, Defendants admit that, for fiscal year 2010, the

federal medical assistance percentage (“FMAP”) for Florida was 67.64 percent, which is higher

than usual because the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5,

123 Stat. 115 (2009), temporarily increased FMAPs to provide States fiscal relief and to support

Medicaid during the recent economic downturn. With respect to the second sentence,

Defendants admit that, in fiscal year 2011, the FMAP for Florida is expected to be 55.45 percent. 

The third sentence is denied.

53. Defendants lack sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations in the first sentence. With respect to the second sentence, Defendants

admit that the Affordable Care Act does not provide enhanced FMAPs for individuals currently

eligible for but not enrolled in Medicaid. The third sentence is denied.

54. This paragraph contains characterizations of this lawsuit and conclusions of law,

not allegations of fact, and thus no response is required. To the extent a response is deemed

necessary, Defendants deny any characterization of the Medicaid Act or the Affordable Care

Act, which speak for themselves, and respectfully refer the Court to those Acts for a complete

and accurate statement of their contents.

55. With respect to the first sentence, Defendants admit that the Agency for Health

Care Administration (“AHCA”) is Florida’s state Medicaid agency. The second and third

sentences are denied.

56. Defendants lack sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations in this paragraph.

57. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

6

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 6 of 13
characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the

Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents.

58. This paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no

response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any

characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the

Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents.

59. The first sentence of this paragraph contains conclusions of law, not allegations of

fact, and thus no response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants

deny any characterization of the Affordable Care Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully

refer the Court to the Act for a complete and accurate statement of its contents. The second

sentence is denied.

60. Denied.

61. Denied except to admit that, in 2014, some State citizens and legal residents will

be subject to the minimum coverage provision.

62. Denied.

63. Defendants lack sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations in this paragraph.

64. Denied.

65. Denied.

66. Defendants lack sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations in the first sentence. The second sentence is denied.

67. Denied. Defendants separately aver that, while Medicaid has always been and

continues to be a cooperative federal-state program, Congress expressly reserved the right to

7

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 7 of 13
amend any provision of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1304, and has exercised that right to

amend Medicaid many times, see, e.g., id. § 1396a note — in particular, to expand eligibility.

68. The first sentence is denied except to admit that the Centers for Medicare and

Medicaid Services (“CMS”) is the component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services that is chiefly responsible for administering the Medicaid program for the federal

government. Defendants separately aver that, if the Secretary of Health and Human Services

finds that a State’s Medicaid plan, or its administration of that plan, fails to comply with federal

requirements, she “shall notify [the] State [Medicaid] agency that further payments will not be

made to the State (or, in [her] discretion, that payments will be limited to categories under or

parts of the State plan not affected by such failure).” 42 U.S.C. § 1396c. The second sentence

contains conclusions of law, not allegations of fact, and thus no response is required. To the

extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny any characterization of the Medicaid

Act, which speaks for itself, and respectfully refer the Court to that Act for a complete and

accurate statement of its contents.

CAUSES OF ACTION

COUNT ONE

Unconstitutional Mandate That All Individuals

Have Health Care Insurance or Pay a Penalty

(U.S. Const. art. I & amends. IX, X)

69. Defendants restate and incorporate by reference the responses contained in all

preceding paragraphs.

 70–75. Denied.

8

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 8 of 13
COUNT TWO [DISMISSED]

Unconstitutional Mandate That All Individuals

Have Health Care Insurance or Pay a Penalty

(U.S. Const. amend. V)

76. Defendants restate and incorporate by reference the responses contained in all

preceding paragraphs.

 77–78. These paragraphs relate to a claim that has been dismissed, and thus no response

is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied.

COUNT THREE [DISMISSED]

Violation of Constitutional Prohibition of

Unapportioned Capitation or Direct Tax

(U.S. Const. art. I, §§ 2, 9 & amends. IX, X)

79. Defendants restate and incorporate by reference the responses contained in all

preceding paragraphs.

 80–82. These paragraphs relate to a claim that has been dismissed, and thus no response

is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied.

COUNT FOUR

Coercion and Commandeering as to Medicaid

(U.S. Const. art. I & amends. IX, X)

83. Defendants restate and incorporate by reference the responses contained in all

preceding paragraphs.

 84–86. Denied.

COUNT FIVE [DISMISSED]

Coercion and Commandeering as to Healthcare Insurance

(U.S. Const. art. I & amends. IX, X)

87. Defendants restate and incorporate by reference the responses contained in all

9

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 9 of 13
preceding paragraphs.

88. This paragraph relates to a claim that has been dismissed, and thus no response is

required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied.

COUNT SIX [DISMISSED]

Interference with States’ Sovereignty as Employers and 

Performance of State Governmental Functions

(U.S. Const. art. I & amends. IX, X)

89. Defendants restate and incorporate by reference the responses contained in all

preceding paragraphs.

90. This paragraph relates to a claim that has been dismissed, and thus no response is

required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, denied.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

Paragraphs 75, 78, 82, 86, 88, and 90 are each followed by a Prayer for Relief, to which

no response is required. To the extent a response is deemed necessary, Defendants deny the

allegations contained in the Prayer for Relief, and further aver that Plaintiffs are not entitled to

the requested relief or any other relief from Defendants.

Defendants deny any and all allegations in the Amended Complaint not expressly

admitted herein to which a response is deemed required.

DEFENSES

1. This Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction because Plaintiffs lack standing under

Article III of the U.S. Constitution.

2. This Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction because Plaintiffs lack prudential

standing.

10

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 10 of 13
3. This Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction because Plaintiffs’ claims are not ripe

for review under Article III of the U.S. Constitution.

4. This Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction because Plaintiffs’ claims are not

prudentially ripe for review.

5. This Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Counts One, Two, Three, and

Six pursuant to the Anti-Injunction Act, 26 U.S.C. § 7421(a).

6. This Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Count Four because that claim is

not justiciable.

7. The Amended Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

CONCLUSION

WHEREFORE, having fully answered, Defendants respectfully request that the Court

enter judgment dismissing this action with prejudice and awarding Defendants costs and such

other relief as the Court may deem appropriate.

Dated: November 4, 2010 Respectfully submitted,

TONY WEST

Assistant Attorney General

IAN HEATH GERSHENGORN

Deputy Assistant Attorney General

THOMAS F. KIRWIN 

United States Attorney

SHEILA LIEBER

Deputy Director

 /s/ Eric Beckenhauer 

BRIAN KENNEDY, D.C. Bar No. 228726

Senior Trial Counsel

11

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 11 of 13
ERIC B. BECKENHAUER, Cal. Bar No. 237526

Trial Attorney

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch

20 Massachusetts Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20530

Telephone: (202) 514-3338

Facsimile: (202) 616-8470

E-mail: eric.beckenhauer@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for Defendants

12

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 12 of 13
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

 I hereby certify that on November 4, 2010, the foregoing document was filed with the

Clerk of Court via the CM/ECF system, causing it to be served on Plaintiffs’ counsel of record.

 /s/ Eric B. Beckenhauer 

ERIC B. BECKENHAUER

Case 3:10-cv-00091-RV-EMT Document 81 Filed 11/04/10 Page 13 of 13