Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Individual Mandate
Ruling strikes down other portions of the bill.
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The Supreme Court has ruled in a 5-4 decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, declaring its individual mandate to be constitutional.
The argument against the constitutionality of the individual mandate had been that it violated states' rights, but proponents cited the Constitution's commerce clause as justification. However the court seems to have found a way around the argument, ruling that the mandate was constitutional anyway under Congress's ability to tax.
In other words, the government can't force you to buy insurance, but Congress can tax you if you don't.
Considered to be the defining domestic policy acheivement for President Barack Obama, the Affordable Care Act -- often referred to as "Obamacare" -- has been a political lightning rod since it was passed in March 2010 by Democrats along party lines with virtually no Republican support.
Supporters of the law have insisted that it would provide coverage to millions of Americans who could not find or afford coverage before, lower health care costs in the long run and prohibit insurance companies from refusing to cover sick people.
Opponents have insisted that the law is a massive government overreach that will further balloon the nation's deficit without bringing health care costs down and will cost the nation millions of jobs as the new regulations strangle businesses.
Did the court get it right. Participate in our poll.
RI Teabagger
11:41 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
I'd like to see one of those death panels try to take me out!
Rade
2:34 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Calmer heads have prevailed; let us move on.
fishman5
3:23 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
what else are they going to make us buy? A hybrid car, a handgun for personal protection? This is a slippery slope.
Joe Sousa.
3:43 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Remember in November . Stop the socialist progressives before we become the USSR.
Joe Sousa.
3:59 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
For people who work in low pay jobs,$8, 10, 12, dollars and hour, this will take one third of their income and put it in an Insurance Co. pocket. The Democrats screwed millions with this Bill / Law
Tom
3:59 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Buried my father-in-law yesterday who fought and risked his life for freedom for this country. Thankfully he did not have to see this.
fishman5
4:06 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
maybe we have to have home builders install solar panels on all new homes, to be purchased from American companies (gov’t subsidized)
otherwise tax penalties which ultimately will be passed on to buyers. Solyndra reincarnated.
Joe Sousa.
4:14 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Any one who believes health care will get cheaper is eligible for free psychiatric care.
fishman5
4:17 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
From the Washington Times:
The high court’s ruling leaves in place 21 tax increases in the health-care law costing more than $675 billion over the next 10 years, according to the House Ways and Means Committee. Of those, 12 tax hikes would affect families earning less than $250,000 per year, the panel said, including a “Cadillac tax” on high-cost insurance plans, a tax on insurance providers, and an excise tax on medical device manufacturers.
“This is a clear violation of the president’s pledge to avoid tax hikes on low- and middle-income taxpayers,” said a statement from the panel, which is chaired by Rep. Dave Camp, Michigan Republican.
Joe Sousa.
5:02 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Don't forget the Tang Larry. You may be in the shelter a long time.
Mike
6:21 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Anyone know the shelf life of Hostess Sno Balls?
Joe Sousa.
6:51 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
10'000 years give or take. But I don't think they will survive uneaten.
Larry must have the munchies with what he is smoking