Va. wants health care suit before US Supreme Court

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's attorney general wants his lawsuit against the federal health care law to go straight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said Thursday he plans to file a motion to bypass an appeals court after he won a federal judge's ruling in December against the law's requirement that most Americans buy health insurance.

Cuccinelli says the case should go to the high court to spare states and companies expenses for a law that might be ruled unconstitutional.

The law is expected to wind up before the Supreme Court at some point after split rulings in four separate federal lawsuits.

The Justice Department is appealing the Virginia decision. It said Thursday the challenge should follow the ordinary path through an appeals court.