Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (left) and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today hit pause on an effort by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and other state attorneys general to appeal a ruling that could overturn the Patient Protection and Affordable Care (PPACA).
The 5th Circuit granted a stay in proceedings in the case, Texas v. USA, , in response to the effects of the recent lapse in federal appropriations that has led to a partial shutdown of much of the federal government.
PPACA is the main part of the two-law Affordable Care Act statutory package.
The Parties
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton headed the team that filed the Texas v. USA suit, on behalf of Texas and other states led by Republicans. The plaintiffs have asked the 5th Circuit to issue a stay.
The defendants in the case — the USA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Internal Revenue Service, and the heads of HHS and the IRS — supported the plaintiffs' request for the stay.
Becerra's coalition has been seeking court permission to intervene in the case. Becerra's coalition asked the 5th Circuit to keep consideration of its motion to intervene moving forward.
The order granting the stay was signed by Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick.
The Shutdown
The order comes as the nation edges toward its longest government shutdown in history.
Federal courts expect to run out of the contingency funds they need to operate Jan. 18. Some district judges have already paused civil cases that involve federal agencies.
The Administrative Office of the United States Courts was expected to issue shutdown guidance Thursday. At press time, the memo had not yet arrived. District courts were still awaiting guidance.
The Justice Department has asked for stays in many civil cases across the country, both in trial courts and in appellate courts. The department has argued that the federal Antideficiency Act generally precludes federal officials from working during a lapse in appropriations.
