The U.S. Supreme Court justices, seen here at the State of the Union address on January 12, refused Tuesday to hear the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act. Pool photo by Evan Vucci/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court refused Tuesday to hear the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act, backing away from a conservative assertion Congress violated the Constitution in approving the law in 2010.

The longshot lawsuit said Obamacare violated the "origination clause" of the U.S. Constitution, which says bills that raise revenue must originate in the House. Conservatives argue Obamacare's individual mandate is a revenue-raising measure and the bill had effectively originated in the Senate.


A federal appeals court rejected the challenge, saying the bill was about healthcare, not revenue.

The justices' decision to pass on the case marks the first time a major case against Obamacare has been turned away. Already, justices have rejected two challenges and upheld a third. A fourth Obamacare case to go before the Supreme Court, regarding the contraceptive mandate, is expected to be heard in the coming months.