26 states file Supreme Court health care appeal

By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) - The 26 states that have sued to overturn President Barack Obama's health care overhaul have filed a Supreme Court appeal pressing for a speedy ruling to the "grave constitutional questions" surrounding the law.

The appeal is similar to one from the National Federation of Independent Business that asks the justices to strike down the entire law, not just the main requirement that individuals purchase insurance or pay a penalty beginning in 2014.

The states also object to the expansion of the federal-state Medicaid program and a requirement that states offer their employees a certain level of insurance coverage or pay penalties.