With a few strokes of a pen, President Barack Obama will sign historic health reform legislation into law and likely touch off lawsuits on behalf of 10 states to block what they say is an unconstitutional measure.

Republican attorneys general in states, including Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington state, announced their intent to protect citizens in their states from the impact of a bill passed by the U.S. House March 21. These state officials join Virginia’s Republican attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, who has announced that once the president signs the bill into law, he will file a federal suit to block its various mandates.

Cuccinelli’s most notable target in his threatened a suit is the individual mandate for individuals nationwide to secure health coverage or be subject to a fine, with certain exemptions for lower-income Americans.

Meanwhile, once Obama signs the bill, the U.S. Senate is expected to begin debate on so-called “fixes” House Democrats want added to the law. Many of those fixes were to appease House Democrats and ensure their vote on the measure last weekend.

Greg Abbott

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said the health reform bill already approved by both the House and Senate “violates the U.S. Constitution and unconstitutionally infringes upon Texas’ individual liberties.

“To protect all Texans’ constitutional rights, preserve the constitutional framework intended by our nation’s founders, and defend our state from further infringement by the federal government, the State of Texas and other states will legally challenge the federal health care legislation,” he said in a statement.

Pennsylvania’s attorney general, Tom Corbett, said in a statement he believes the courts will find the health care reform legislation unconstitutional as well.

Attorney General Jon Bruning of Nebraska said the new law “tramples on individual liberty and dumps on the states the burden of an unfunded mandate that taxpayers cannot afford.

“If the President signs this constitutionally flawed legislation, we will join with other state attorneys general to protect the liberty of our citizens and sovereignty of state governments,” he said.

Other states pledging participation in a suit are North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.

State lawmakers also are taking action against federal health reform.

A Florida House committee voted March 22 to a state constitutional amendment to prohibit anyone, including employers, from following any federal mandate for health coverage. The measure would need 60% voter approval if places on a November ballot.

The Kansas House is set to discuss a similar measure today (March 23).