Excerpt: We've blogged about the 9th Circuit case of Golden Gate Restaurant Ass'n v. City an County of San Francisco .... Most recently, the 9th Circuit denied a petition for rehearing ..., and the restaurant association applied for a stay in the Supreme Court, pending resolution of the certiorari process. [On March 27], the defendants filed [a] joint response to that motion .... Essentially, the defendants argue that the medium and large employers covered by the program have been complying with the healthcare spending requirements for 15 months, and there is no sign that any business is being harmed by it. The application is before Justice Anthony M. Kennedy as Circuit Justice; it is up to him to decide the stay issue himself or to refer it to his colleagues for action.  MORE >>