Supreme Court Allows More Time for PPACA Arguments

By Associated Press

February 21, 2012 at 10:45 AM

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has added another 30 minutes to the time scheduled for arguments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA).

The court now plans to hear arguments for 6 hours spread over 3 days in late March.

The justices on Tuesday set aside 30 more minutes — 90 minutes overall — for discussion of the relationship between PPACA and the federal Anti-Injunction Act of 1867.

The act requires taxpayers who object to a new tax to start paying the tax before challenging it in court.

The court also will hear two hours of argument on the PPACA individual health ownership mandate — a requirement that most people buy a minimum level of health insurance or else pay a penalty.

The court will spend 90 minutes hearing arguments on whether the rest of PPACA can remain in place if the individual insurance requirement falls and an hour hearing arguments on PPACA provisions that would expand Medicaid.

-alb

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