If you are now learning about the #Obamacare lawsuit and that West Virginia is involved, let me help with all of the catching up you have to do.

A thread with links below. #wvpol
It begins in Dec. 2017, when @realDonaldTrump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The law includes the zeroing out of the individual mandate penalty for not purchasing health insurance.

The GOP-controlled Congress failed multiple times to repeal "Obamacare" that year.
Texas and Wisconsin announced in Feb. 2018 they are leading the effort to have the law struck down. Wisconsin and Maine are no longer involved in the legal challenge, but 18 of the original GOP states remain (including West Virginia). https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/ag-paxton-and-wisconsin-ag-file-20-state-lawsuit-end-grip-obamacare-texas-and-nation
AG Paxton and Wisconsin AG File 20-State Lawsuit to End the Grip of Obamacare on Texas and the...

“Texans have known all along that Obamacare is unlawful and a divided Supreme Court's approval rested solely on the flimsy support of Congress' authority to tax. Congress has now kicked that flimsy...

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/ag-paxton-and-wisconsin-ag-file-20-state-lawsuit-end-grip-obamacare-texas-and-nation
. @Sen_JoeManchin and Senate Democrats have tried to get the Senate Legal Counsel involved with no success.

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/07/19/manchin-leads-democrats-on-resolution-protecting-pre-existing-conditions-coverage/

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/08/23/manchin-amendment-regarding-obamacare-lawsuit-passed-over/

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/09/05/manchin-urges-another-vote-on-obamacare-resolution-as-lawsuit-gets-underway/

http://wvmetronews.com/2019/01/15/senate-democrats-support-another-resolution-to-defend-health-care-law/
Manchin leads Democrats on resolution protecting pre-existing conditions coverage - WV MetroNews

Forty-nine senators — 47 Democrats and two independents — are backing the resolution.

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/07/19/manchin-leads-democrats-on-resolution-protecting-pre-existing-conditions-coverage/
During the 2018 election cycle, Manchin took time to attack Morrisey — the GOP's candidate for Senate — for the lawsuit.

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/08/16/manchin-ad-goes-after-morrisey-for-obamacare-lawsuit/

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/09/11/manchin-arms-himself-in-latest-ads-nra-issues-election-call-to-arms/

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/11/01/manchin-morrisey-describe-policy-attack-during-debate/
Manchin ad goes after Morrisey for 'Obamacare' lawsuit - WV MetroNews

West Virginia and 19 other states are suing the federal government over "Obamacare," arguing the statute is unconstitutional following the repeal of the individual mandate.

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/08/16/manchin-ad-goes-after-morrisey-for-obamacare-lawsuit/
The election happened and Manchin won. A month later, a federal judge in Texas struck down "Obamacare" as a whole. http://wvmetronews.com/2018/12/14/federal-judge-rules-obamacare-individual-mandate-unconstitutional/
Federal judge rules 'Obamacare,' individual mandate unconstitutional - WV MetroNews

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey was among those who argued the federal health care law as unconstitutional.

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/12/14/federal-judge-rules-obamacare-individual-mandate-unconstitutional/
The DOJ got involved in March 2019, backing the Dec. 2018 ruling. http://wvmetronews.com/2019/03/26/justice-department-sides-with-federal-judge-on-obamacare-ruling/

The U.S. House of Representatives entered the picture the following month. http://wvmetronews.com/2019/04/03/mckinley-mooney-miller-oppose-obamacare-resolution/
Justice Department sides with federal judge on 'Obamacare' ruling - WV MetroNews

The decision came after several states on Monday issued a challenge to the original decision.

http://wvmetronews.com/2019/03/26/justice-department-sides-with-federal-judge-on-obamacare-ruling/
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans heard arguments in July 2019. http://wvmetronews.com/2019/07/09/federal-appeals-court-hears-arguments-on-obamacare-constitutionality/

https://soundcloud.com/alexhousethomas/federal-court-hears-arguments-on-obamacarewest-virginia-metronews-backgrounder-july-10-2019

That same court struck down the individual mandate in December 2019. http://wvmetronews.com/2019/12/18/federal-appeals-court-agrees-individual-mandate-unconstitutional-leaves-rest-of-obamacare-to-lower-court/
Federal appeals court hears arguments on 'Obamacare' constitutionality - WV MetroNews

Eighteen Republican states — including West Virginia — and the U.S. Department of Justice support a December verdict striking down the health care law.

http://wvmetronews.com/2019/07/09/federal-appeals-court-hears-arguments-on-obamacare-constitutionality/
#SCOTUS in March agreed to consider the matter. http://wvmetronews.com/2020/03/02/us-supreme-court-will-hear-obamacare-case/

Democratic AGs and the House filed briefs in May. http://wvmetronews.com/2020/05/06/first-briefs-filed-to-us-supreme-court-in-obamacare-challenge/

Republican AGs and the DOJ filed briefs Thursday. http://wvmetronews.com/2020/06/25/republican-attorneys-general-submit-brief-in-obamacare-lawsuit/
US Supreme Court will hear 'Obamacare' case - WV MetroNews

Eighteen Republican states —including West Virginia — back the legal challenge that could overturn the health care law.

http://wvmetronews.com/2020/03/02/us-supreme-court-will-hear-obamacare-case/
During all of this, @MorriseyWV has stated he supports protecting pre-existing conditions coverage. He even backed a bill this past legislative session he said would force providers to do that (the bill didn't become a law). http://wvmetronews.com/2020/01/12/optimism-concern-follow-announcement-of-pre-existing-conditions-bill/
Optimism, concern follow announcement of pre-existing conditions bill - WV MetroNews

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and legislators last week announced a measure to protect pre-existing conditions coverage.

http://wvmetronews.com/2020/01/12/optimism-concern-follow-announcement-of-pre-existing-conditions-bill/
Trump has said similar things in the past.

Alex Azar, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in February there are no plans to pitch a replacement bill until the legal challenge is over. http://wvmetronews.com/2020/02/13/azar-no-obamacare-replacement-until-after-legal-challenge/
Azar: No 'Obamacare' replacement until after legal challenge - WV MetroNews

Democratic members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee pressed Secretary Alex Azar about the legal challenge.

http://wvmetronews.com/2020/02/13/azar-no-obamacare-replacement-until-after-legal-challenge/
While this article is a year old, the effects nationally and in West Virginia of a possible "Obamacare" end cannot be ignored. http://wvmetronews.com/2019/03/04/analyst-possible-obamacare-ruling-would-cause-significant-coverage-funding-loss/
Analyst: Possible 'Obamacare' ruling would cause significant coverage, funding loss - WV MetroNews

A federal judge in December ruled the health care law is unconstitutional because of the congressional repeal of the individual mandate.

http://wvmetronews.com/2019/03/04/analyst-possible-obamacare-ruling-would-cause-significant-coverage-funding-loss/
I have been covering this lawsuit for nearly two years because I'm concerned about how this would impact my audience. I hope to have you along for the rest of this legal journey.

~END~
Epilogue, part one: Do you want to know how much I talk about this lawsuit at work?

This was my birthday cake this year. https://twitter.com/AlexHouseThomas/status/1233474697137922050
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