Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is implementing a similar Health Reform Coordinating Council. The Governor said in a press release, "Thanks to our Congressional delegation and the President Obama's leadership, we will help even more families. The Health Care Reform Coordinating Council will immediately begin the work to ensure our state leads the nation in delivering even more health care to Maryland children and families." Maine Governor John Baldacci has also charged his Office of Health Policy and Finance and other agencies to develop options for meeting requirements under the law.

In Nevada, AG Catherine Cortez Masto has declined Governor Jim Gibbons' request to join the suit. However, the Governor says he is now "considering his options to move forward with legal action..." On Friday, Kansas AG Steve Six announced he would not join the challenge, despite requests from legislators. In addition, Arkansas AG Dustin McDaniel and Montana AG Steve Bullock have also recently said they would not join the suit.


Georgia AG Thurbert E. Baker has also declined Governor Sonny Purdue's request to join the challenge. In a statement, Baker explained, "Based upon my understanding of the current Act, I am unaware of any constitutional infirmities and do not think it would be prudent, legally or fiscally, to pursue such litigation...Considering our state's current severe budgetary crisis, with vital services like education and law enforcement being cut deep I cannot justify a decision to initiate expensive and time-consuming litigation that I believe has no legal merit."

Kentucky AG Jack Conway declined State legislators' request, comparing the current challenge to those brought against the Social Security Act, Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. "Like those challenges," Conway responded, "the lawsuits that have been filed...are without merit. Therefore, I do not intend to use Kentucky taxpayer resources to join in the legal challenge..."

Ohio's AG also rejected the suit. AG Richard Cordray stated, "Based on my review of Ohio law and H.R. 3590, and my experience with federal constitutional law, I do not believe that the lawsuits filed against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have any legal merit whatsoever," Cordray said. "As a result, I believe it would be a waste of taxpayer resources for Ohio to join any such lawsuit, and we will not be doing so."

Oregon is going even further than just supporting reform. Governor Ted Kulongoski and Attorney General John Kroger have announced that the state of Oregon "intends to take legal action in court to defend the constitutionality of the new national health care reform bill. Oregon will seek to participate in ongoing litigation in order to argue that the new legislation does not violate the U.S. Constitution."

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