Shortly after a Florida judge ruled the federal health care reform legislation unconstitutional, Florida sent back to the federal government $2 million in grants intended to help put some elements of the law in place.

Federal officials, though, want U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson to clarify his ruling. In a motion filed in Pensacola today, the U.S. Department of Justice asked Vinson to confirm that the court did not intend to end programs currently in effect, such as small business tax credits and grants awarded to states to help with health care costs. The money Florida received would have been used to plan a system where consumers can comparison shop for health plans and to develop a resource for consumers to monitor insurance rate changes and how premiums are spent.