State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has drawn national attention for his statement this week that the federal health care law is dead in Wisconsin.

Van Hollen, a Republican, made his statement following the decision Monday by U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson in Florida that the entire law should be struck down for improperly requiring Americans to buy health insurance.

"This means that, for Wisconsin, the federal health care law is dead - unless and until it is revived by an appellate court," Van Hollen said of the decision.

Gov. Scott Walker, also a Republican, authorized Van Hollen last month to join the federal lawsuit on behalf of Wisconsin, making the state one of 26 involved in the Florida suit. The state joined the lawsuit on Jan. 19, just a week and a half before the ruling.