Contact: Brad Dacus, President, Pacific Justice Institute, 916-857-6900

SAN DIEGO, May 14 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Pacific Justice Institute will host a press conference this coming Monday, May 17 in San Diego to announce the filing of a new federal lawsuit challenging the recently enacted federal health care bill. The press conference will be held at 10:00 A.M. in front of the San Diego federal courthouse.  Participants will include Brad Dacus, President of the Pacific Justice Institute, and former Assemblyman Steve Baldwin.

The new lawsuit, being filed by Pete Lepiscopo on behalf of plaintiffs Pacific Justice Institute and Steve Baldwin, challenges the recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as the health care reform bill, on a number of grounds. The suit attacks several unconstitutional aspects of the Act's adoption, the most stark being the Act's compelling citizens to purchase health care. Lepiscopo stated that, "Never in the history of our Nation has Congress commanded its citizens to purchase any good or service, and if they don't they will be assessed a fine." Other grounds include the Act's imposition of a direct tax and its expansion of federal police powers, as well as the Act's unprecedented invasion of privacy and the physician-patient privilege and its disregard for equal protection and preference for some religious objectors over others.
 
"We are excited to be a part of this vital effort to overturn the unconstitutional government takeover of health care," said PJI President Brad Dacus. "At a time when families, small businesses, and charities are already stretched to the limit, these unprecedented new taxes and penalties must be vigorously challenged in court. Americans, who overwhelmingly oppose this bill, deserve no less."

Former Assemblyman Steve Baldwin commented, "Our founding fathers would be appalled not only at the notion of government effectively controlling health care in America, but at the idea of compelling individuals to participate in a so-called benefit that they do not want to be part of."

Attorney Pete Lepiscopo stated, "The federal government has power to collect, archive and track health care information for all Americans without their consent and against their will. This is a serious and unprecedented violation of the privacy rights of all Americans."

About The Pacific Justice Institute:  Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Pacific Justice Institute works diligently, without charge, to provide their clients with all the legal support they need.  Pacific Justice Institute's strategy is to coordinate and oversee large numbers of concurrent court actions through a network of over 1,000 affiliate attorneys nationwide. And, according to former US Attorney General Edwin Meese, "The Institute fills a critical need for those whose civil liberties are threatened." "Through our dedicated attorneys and supporters, we defend the rights of countless individuals, families and churches... without charge."

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