The Lawrence County Commissioners want Ohio to join 20 other states who are filing lawsuits against “Obamacare.”

At its regularly scheduled Thursday meeting the commissioners unanimously voted to send a letter to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine asking for the state to join in the fight against the recently passed health care legislation.

That national legislation, promoted by President Barack Obama, became law during the Democratic-controlled 111th Congress. Recently a federal judge in Virginia ruled that some of the provisions of the law are unconstitutional. Now 20 states are using that to promote continued litigation.

“One of the problems, I feel, is that nobody knows how much it would cost,” said Commissioner Les Boggs, who proposed the motion. “It is unconstitutional to make individuals and businesses to be compelled to purchases services. It creates another government bureaucracy.”

Boggs applauded such features as not denying individuals coverage because of pre-existing conditions. However, he is concerned that overall the law could increase the Medicaid roles.

In other action the commissioners:

• Received the 2 percent safety rebate from the Bureau of Workers Compensation in the amount of $12, 928.08;

• Appointed Boggs, Bruce Trent and Tom Runyon to the Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services board to oversee the distribution of assets of the defunct district;

• Received two weekly reports from the dog warden where a total of 32 dogs were destroyed, 22 sold and one redeemed. There are 88 dogs in custody;

• And hired Matthew Morgan for the full-time dispatcher position at the 911 center at an hourly rate of $11.69.

The commissioners will meet for their organizational meeting at 9 a.m. Monday.