WBRZ - Baton Rouge

State Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, wants Louisiana to withdraw from the lawsuit against the recent health care reform law.

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell joined 12 other states Tuesday in filing the lawsuit. The day before, Governor Bobby Jindal asked him to research and pursue challenges to the law. The lawsuit claims the law isn't constitutional, arguing it violates states' rights provided by the 10th Amendment.

In his letter to Caldwell, Richmond says the state "is in desperate need" of the legislation. He also refers to the constitutional challenge as "legally dubious."

Richmond plans to file a resolution Monday when the state Legislature begins its regular session. The resolution also directs Caldwell to withdraw from the suit. Even if the Legislature passes it, resolutions do not carry the weight of law.

The Legislature does have a bill to consider that, if passed, would block the reform's changes in Louisiana. More than 30 states are pursuing, or have already passed, a similar law.