Hood gives go-ahead to healthcare lawsuit

Mississippi’s Democratic attorney general said Friday he would not try to stop the Republican governor from joining a multi-state lawsuit challenging a federal health care overhaul.

Gov. Haley Barbour says he intends to join the lawsuit when the lead state, Florida, amends its original court filing. It’s not clear when that might happen.

In late March, Barbour asked Hood to sue on behalf of Mississippi. Hood originally said the governor needed the attorney general’s permission to file suit. Hood gave that clearance that Friday.

Meanwhile Friday, Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant — acting as a private citizen — joined a separate lawsuit challenging the federal health law. That suit was filed by a state senator in federal court in Hattiesburg.