DENVER—Coloradans upset by the new federal health care law delivered more than 11,000 signatures Wednesday supporting Republican Attorney General John Suthers for signing onto a national lawsuit challenging the overhaul.
Suthers and other state attorneys general filed the lawsuit in March, arguing the health care law violates constitutional limits on the powers of the federal government by requiring people to have health insurance.
Lu Busse, chairwoman of the tea party group 9.12 Project Colorado Coalition, said their goal was to accumulate more signatures than the liberal advocacy group ProgressNow, which filed a petition with 10,000 signatures calling on Suthers to drop the suit.
“We believe that the new health care law has overreached the federal powers,” said Busse.
Busse and Jeff Crank, state director of Americans for Prosperity, another tea party group, said support for their petition grew quickly, and within 40 hours of posting the online petition, they had accumulated more than 9,000 signatures.
“I think the American people are paying attention, and I think that’s what this shows,” Crank said.
Mike Saccone, spokesman for Suthers, said public opinion will not affect Suthers’ decision.
“We appreciate their input, but it’s not going to change the direction of the lawsuit or our stance on the matter of the law involved,” said Saccone.
Bobby Clark, executive director for ProgressNow Colorado, said Wednesday that Suthers is wasting state resources on what he called a political charade. Suthers has said the lawsuit will cost the state $5,000.
“This is clearly a politically motivated act on his part, and once again he is misusing his office for political purposes,” said Clark.
Colorado House Democrats oppose Suthers’ participation in the lawsuit. Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter also criticized Suthers’ involvement. Assistant House Minority Leader David Balmer will introduce a resolution Monday in support of Suthers, and he says he expects warm reception among house Republicans.
