Kansas gets involved in another health care lawsuit

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has brought his state into another lawsuit against the federal health care overhaul enacted last year.

Schmidt said Tuesday the move will help states flesh out arguments that they expect ultimately to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The lawsuit before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia was filed by five residents of three states, who allege a mandate requiring most Americans to buy health insurance violates their religious liberties.

Schmidt and attorneys general for 13 other states filed a friend-of-the-court brief last month asking the appeals court to strike down the mandate. Kansas already is among 26 states challenging the federal health care overhaul in a lawsuit filed before an appeals court in Atlanta.