Liberty Counsel’s challenge to ObamaCare is the most comprehensive case pending, challenging (1) the employer mandate; (2) the abortion mandate for religious employers; (3) the abortion mandate for individuals; and (4) the entire law because tax bills must originate in the House.

 

(audio clip) “While Liberty Counsel joins others in challenging the HHS abortifacient mandate, we also challenge the entirety of the employer mandate for all employers – secular and religious,” said Staver. “Congress does not have the authority to force employers to buy an unwanted product, and it can’t be a tax because it is punitive,” Staver said.

 

“If Liberty University does not provide insurance coverage, it will be fined $2,000 per employee, per year, resulting in millions of dollars of penalties. Even if Liberty provides insurance but refuses to provide any portion of the preventive coverage mandate (including abortion-inducing drugs and IUDs), it will still be penalized $2,000 per year for every one of its ‘full time equivalent’ employees. And it doesn’t stop there,” Staver warned. “Another statute charges fines up to $15,000 per employee, per day. The fines could reach tens of millions of dollars,” Staver said. “ObamaCare coerces the largest Christian university in the world to violate its religious convictions under penalty of enormous fines. These excessive fines constitute an impermissible penalty,” said Staver.

 

“ObamaCare represents a frontal attack to religious freedom and economic stability. Described as a ‘train wreck’ by one of its architects, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT),  ObamaCare is a train about to collide with the fundamental right to free exercise of religion and the economic stability of individuals and businesses across America,” said Staver.

 

Finally, since ObamaCare was classified as a tax, it violates the Origination Clause of the Constitution, which requires all tax laws to originate in the House. ObamaCare originated as House Resolution 3590, the Service Members Home Ownership Act. After passing the House, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) completely gutted the bill, and then inserted a new title and over 2,000 pages of ObamaCare. “H.R. 3590 was not originally a bill for raising revenue,” Staver said.

 

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.