Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a potential GOP presidential candidate, stepped up his attack Thursday on President Barack Obama's federal health care law with a court filing challenging its cost to states.

Pawlenty and Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri, both Republicans leaving office soon, joined in the federal court filing in Pensacola, Fla.

A judge there ruled last month that parts of a lawsuit filed by 20 other states challenging the health care overhaul can go to trial. The two governors' filing seeks permission to submit a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the lawsuit.

The filing, written by a Washington lawyer from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said the governors are safeguarding their citizens from "federal abuse of the spending power." They argue the law places liabilities on states through a Medicaid expansion.

"Although the Act indicates that the federal government will initially pay for some Medicaid expansions, the states are advised that they will pay for 10 percent of some unspecified costs in four years, and there is no indication that the states will not pay more in succeeding periods," the governors' document said.

Pawlenty has been vocal in his opposition to the law. He has said he would make repealing it a focal point of a run for president in 2012 if he wages a campaign. Pawlenty has ordered state agencies to avoid discretionary grants related to the health law.

Atlanta’s biggest law firms are giving up floor after floor of the best office space in the city as they try to slash tens of millions of dollars in real estate costs.

Large firms that can combine the best talent with the lowest overhead will have the advantage as their clients continue to cut back on legal work and fees, industry insiders said.

The latest giant on the verge of making a move is Alston & Bird LLP, which leases about 435,000 square feet between two buildings, One Atlantic Center and Atlantic Center Plaza at West Peachtree and 14th streets. Atlanta Business Chronicle has reported that many expect the law firm will consolidate into about 300,000 square feet within the 50-story One Atlantic Center.

The developer Daniel Corp. has also pitched the law firm on a new office tower.

A decision could be reached in September, according to sources familiar with negotiations.

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The Dodd-Frank financial law passed in July provides for the larger bounties, with the hope of fingering wrongdoers such as Bernard Madoff before they swindle thousands of people.

People who supply "original information" about large frauds could net as much as 30% of the penalties and recovered funds collected by the SEC, which could add up to a multimillion-dollar payout.

Lawyers who represent whistle-blowers have been spreading the word about the new incentives.

"We've gotten some very high-quality tips," said SEC official Stephen Cohen.

He said the program aims to get timely information from insiders close to a fraud so the SEC can bring a case quickly, limit the damage and recover funds for victims. "The goal is not just to get more tips; we want to get more high-quality tips," Mr. Cohen said.

Defense lawyers warn that the bounty program could spawn a flood of frivolous cases that create headaches for companies.

Also, the large awards could spur employees to report problems to the government instead of working through normal corporate channels and letting the company self-report any issues, said William Jordan, a corporate defense attorney at Atlanta law firm Alston & Bird LLP.