Cuccinelli, McCollum confer on health-care lawsuits

Leaders of the nation's two major legal efforts to overturn the federal health-care law had a chance to compare notes Wednesday, as Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) spoke by phone to discuss progress on the two suits.

The Florida attorney general is running a vigorous campaign for governor, limiting his time for legal chit-chat. But the two were able to get together about 9:15 p.m. as McCollum drove home for a campaign event to discuss the legal arguments advanced by the federal government in defense of the law.

Virginia will face the feds in court next week as a judge in Richmond hears oral arguments over a motion to dismiss the suit. In Florida, the federal government last week filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which now includes 20 states.

"It was just to have the high-level connection before the low-level folks talk and just get in touch with what's going on with their case," Cuccinelli said.