WASHINGTON ― House Republicans want a federal appeals court to let them delay the next phase of their lawsuit against President Barack Obama that would have devastating consequences for the Affordable Care Act. A lower court this year ruled in favor of House Republicans’ claim that the Obama administration is illegally spending $5 billion a year on subsidies for the poorest Obamacare enrollees. With Obama on his way out, the Justice Department’s appeal would pit House Republicans against President-elect Donald Trump’s administration next year. According to Politico, House Republicans don’t want the appeals court to take up the case, House v. Burwell, while Congress and Trump devise a health care agenda to succeed the Affordable Care Act, so they have formally asked the court to wait. The Obama administration rejects the lawsuit’s premise that the funds are being distributed illegally, and argues that lawmakers don’t have standing to sue a federal department.

Source: Huffington Post November 22, 2016 00:00 UTC