GOP-Fueled Lawsuit Stands in the Way of Real Progress and Reform for Americans

Palo Alto, CA -
Today, Democratic Attorney General candidate Chris Kelly called on all Californians to sign a petition opposing a lawsuit against the federal government, filed by 13 state Attorneys General, challenging the overhaul of the United States' healthcare system. The lawsuit, led by Republican Attorney General of Florida, Bill McCollum, contends the new health care legislation unconstitutionally penalizes citizens if they don't buy insurance.

The historic health care legislation, signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday, will give 32 million Americans access to health insurance and no American will ever be denied access to coverage because of pre-existing conditions or in the event of an illness. Opponents of the lawsuit see this as just another partisan attack against the Obama Administration and Democratic legislators who have been fighting for the very health care reform this country so desperately needs.

"California stands to gain tremendously from health care reform. Of the 32 million Americans who will get health coverage under the bill, as many as 7 million of them will be Californians, and everyone in our state will gain more security and stability in their health insurance coverage," Kelly said. "That's why I will do everything in my power as California's next Attorney General to defeat efforts to repeal or overturn this critical health care legislation."

"I will always fight to put the people's interests first, not the special interests or any narrow partisan political interest," said Kelly in a message to supporters.

An attorney and businessman, Kelly brings the right mix of experience in public policy, technology and law to fight traditional crime and combat new crimes of today - like identity theft and online sexual predators. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Kelly worked for a federal judge assisting on a wide range of criminal and civil cases, including drug smuggling and money laundering. Kelly then came home to work for a Palo Alto law firm, representing innovators and entrepreneurs, including Netscape in the Microsoft anti-trust case.

In the 1990's, he served as a domestic policy advisor to President Clinton. During his time at the White House, Kelly helped to advance the landmark plan that put 100,000 new community police officers on America's streets. As chief legal counsel at Facebook, Kelly led efforts to protect the safety and security of the online community. Kelly worked by side with Attorneys General from all 50 states developing safeguards to protect children from sexual predators.