Gov. Sonny Perdue announced plans on Thursday to do what state Attorney General Thurbert Baker has declined to do - file suit against the federal government over President Obama's new health care law. It's a step that no doubt would be greeted with approval by most, though certainly not all, Georgians.

"I think in this economy, in this America that we all grew up in and love, forcing people to purchase things they don't want to purchase violates a constitutional right they have," said Perdue at his press conference, at which he was flanked by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, formerly of Cobb.

Added Gingrich, "I think the Democratic leadership has to take some real responsibility for having run a machine that used corrupt tactics, that bought votes, that bullied people and as a result has enraged much of the American people."

True enough.

The governor is basing his planned lawsuit on the provision in the new law that requires all Americans to buy health insurance whether they want to or not. Failure to do so will carry a sizeable fine, and the new law includes $10 billion with which to hire 16,500 additional IRS agents to track down violators of that provision.

The governor also argues the new law will cost the state hundreds of millions each year because Medicaid rolls will be expanded. That means the state's health insurance plan will have to cover the adult children of state workers up to 26 years old, he says.

Baker has declined to pursue such a suit, saying he feels the state's claim is not viable and would be a waste of state resources. Of course, it would be political suicide for Baker, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in the July party primaries, to file such a suit against his president's landmark achievement. As it is, Baker's stance is no doubt helping him politically.

However, he has a point that such a suit could be long and costly.

To that end, Perdue says a number of lawyers have volunteered to take the state's case on a pro bono (without pay) basis. He also said that would save the state from the costs of joining in with the attorneys general from the 14 other states that plan to challenge the law.

Baker rebuts that even though Georgia's participation will be handled on a pro bono basis, there may well still be costs to taxpayers somewhere along the way. That may be, but we strongly suspect that most Georgians would say that if it comes to that, it would represent money well spent.