Politics & Government
POLL: Do You Agree With the Supreme Court's Decision to Uphold the Health Care Act?
The health care reform bill, signed into law in March 2010, has been under scrutiny by many–including 26 states that filed a lawsuit against it.
The most controversial clause of the Affordable Care Act has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, the court announced Thursday.
The group of bills aimed at overhauling the American health care system was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Since then, 26 states filed suit against the act, stating that provisions in it required most uninsured Americans to purchase health insurance were unconstitutional.
According to the Washington Post, the Supreme Court agreed that the mandate itself is unconstitutional, but that it is within the rights of Congress to tax individuals for not having health care. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion.
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The ruling also upheld a portion of the bill that asks states to expand their Medicaid coverage, but said that the federal government cannot without Medicaid funding for states that choose not to comply.
Congresswoman Candice Miller, an opponent of the act who represents Macomb Township in the House of Representatives, released this statement Thursday in reaction to the ruling.
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“We are a nation of laws and as such I respect today’s ruling by the Supreme Court that upheld Obamacare. Ultimately in our American democracy the people rule through their elected representatives and the people do not want this law. In two weeks the House of Representatives will vote to repeal Obamacare and I will once again support the wishes of my constituents and vote in favor of repealing this misguided law.”
Beaumont Health System's Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs Mike Killian supported the ruling, saying:
"We very strongly believe all Americans should have access to health insurance. ... Hopefully this law will help."
For patients, Killian said the law will "focus our system – and everybody else – on primary care. ... It will require us to keep whole populations healthy rather than just focusing on individuals."
in Washington, D.C., courtesy of Georgetown Patch.
Do you agree with the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act? Vote in our poll and tell us why you agree or disagree in the comments.
