Tom Horne - Attorney General

Attorney General

On November 2, 2010, Horne defeated Felecia Rotellini in the race for Arizona Attorney General in the 2010 elections.

Horne filed an action in federal court calling on the Obama administration to drop its challenge of S.B. 1070.

Horne joined the multi-state effort to challenge the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare. Horne stated that "The constitution does not give the power to the federal government to force people to buy things they don't want to buy, such as health insurance."

Horne personally argued at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of Arizona’s law that requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote. The three-judge panel ruled that federal law preempts the state requirement. Horne successfully petitioned for an en banc review, and argued the case before the full court late in FY 2011. The court struck down the Arizona law in part. The US Supreme Court has agreed to rule on the constitutionality of the law

During 2011, the Attorney General’s Office concluded a number of major consumer settlements. Among them was the largest pharmaceutical payout in Arizona history in the amount of $2.1 million, which is part of a record $68.5 million settlement between AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and 37 states.

Another major pharmaceutical settlement was reached with another 37 state Attorneys General in FY 2011 in which GlaxoSmithKline PLC and SB Pharmco Puerto Rico paid a total of $40.75 million arising from allegations of substandard manufacturing processes.