October Term 2011 · Docket 11-400
Does the Medicaid expansion coerce states?
Florida argues the federal Medicaid expansion forces states to comply. The government argues it offers a voluntary financial incentive.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Paul Clement argued the expansion is coercive.
Donald Verrilli argued the expansion is voluntary.
Clement compared the funding to a gun to the head.
Verrilli compared the funding to a job offer.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 9-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether federal funding conditions cross a constitutional line. Florida claims the expansion acts as a threat. The government claims it acts as a reward.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 9-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 28, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-19
What each side wants
Florida wants the Court to strike down the Medicaid expansion.
The government wants the Court to uphold the Medicaid expansion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 9-7
What each side says
Florida argues the funding amount is coercive.
The government argues the funding amount is voluntary.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 9-7
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if a large federal gift constitutes coercion.
Justice Sotomayor asked what percentage of state budgets becomes coercive.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
Why it matters
This dispute defines the boundary of federal power over state budgets. It determines how much financial leverage Washington holds over state policy choices. The outcome shapes the scope of national health care programs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 9-7
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 9-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 9-7
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.