SOONER IS BETTER, DECIDES THE ADMINISTRATION

Hot on the heels of Monday’s news that the Obama administration had decided not to ask for a re-hearing of the Eleventh Circuit Court’s ruling that the individual mandate is unconstitutional, came today’s announcement that the Justice Department had asked the Supreme Court to hear the case.

Given that other Appeals Court decisions may also be forwarded to the Supreme Court, it is not certain which case or cases the Court will decide to hear. However, a request by the administration is almost sure to be granted.

While the rationale for the Justice Department decision cannot be known, it seems that the administration believes that it has a better than evens chance of prevailing.

The critical issue now is timing, with a hearing most likely in the spring, and a decision—in the middle of the presidential election campaign—in June 2012.