U.S. files 1st response to health care law challenge

The Obama administration argues in its first court response to a challenge against the new health care law that Congress can require Americans to buy health insurance.

The argument by Justice Department lawyers comes in a lawsuit that a conservative group, the Thomas More Law Center, filed in federal court in Detroit on March 23, the same day President Barack Obama signed the new law.

According to the filing late Tuesday, the Obama administration says that the minimum coverage mandate is a valid exercise of Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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