Politics & Government

POLL: U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Obama Healthcare Plan

The justices also found that the so-called "individual mandate" in what's become known as Obamacare, is constitutional.

 

In a landmark decision, both legally and politically, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld President Barack Obama's sweeping healthcare law, including the central mandate that individuals must buy health insurance.

Pundits and politicians alike are already heralding the decision as a major political boon to Obama, whose supporters were concerned that an overturn of the law, or just the individual mandate, would harm the president's re-election bid this year.

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Obama's health care law, which also requires health insurers to provide coverage to children of policy holders up to 26 years old and bans insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, was challenged by several states who argued that some of its conditions, particularly the individual mandate, were unconstitutional.

Republicans also had vehemently opposed the health care law and their presumptive presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, has vowed to seek its repeal if he's elected.

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Reactions:

Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4):

“With this decision in place, people and businesses across the country can move forward with the certainty that they will have access to affordable health insurance. Would be entrepreneurs can now start their own businesses without fearing they won’t be able to purchase insurance for their families and employees, and recent graduates can take jobs at a startup or a nonprofit that doesn’t provide insurance—because they will be able to purchase it themselves. You will not lose access to health care if you lose your job, women can’t be charged more than men for coverage, and kids with asthma and moms who survived cancer will be able to get health insurance.  We can now move forward with the Affordable Care Act’s reforms, which will lower costs, better coordinate our health care, and provide more financial stability for families and businesses that purchase health insurance.

“Because of health care reform, for the first time in over a decade, we saw a decrease in the growth of health care costs. I look forward to seeing continued progress as the remainder of the new law goes into effect and we tweak the law to continue to slow the growth of health care spending.”

Attorney General George Jepsen

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a victory for the millions of Americans who need health care, for the individuals living with medical conditions who would otherwise be denied coverage, for parents who will be able to keep their children on their insurance plan until age 26 and for seniors struggling to afford their prescription medications. Tens of thousands of Connecticut residents have already benefitted from health care reform, and tens of thousands more will benefit as more provisions of the law take effect.

“While I am still reviewing the Court’s legal analysis and the details of the decision, I applaud the Court for making the correct decision upholding the individual mandate and ensuring access to health care in our state and our country.”

Former Rep. Chris Shays

"The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the constitutionality of the individual healthcare mandate just reaffirms the need to send someone to the United States Senate who has the ability to repeal this destructive law.  Obamacare is the single greatest infringement on our individual liberties and personal freedoms that we have seen in my generation. This was a power grab of the U.S. health care system by Chris Murphy, a Democratic Congress and the Obama Administration."

Statement from Gov. Dannel Malloy & Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman

"This is a tremendous day for all Americans.  The Supreme Court has taken a historic stand with the Affordable Care Act—this decision demonstrates that the nation will do the right thing in ensuring accessible, affordable health care for all Americans. With SCOTUS validating the law, Republicans in Congress should cease their efforts to repeal the reforms and instead join President Obama  in focusing on job creation. In Connecticut, we’ve been leading the way on this issue—we never stopped working, and today’s decision is an affirmation of everything we’ve worked so hard to prepare. Now let’s make sure we continue to implement this historic, positive change."

Statement by House chair of the state legislature’s Public Health Committee Rep. Betsy Ritter (D-Waterford/Montville)

“Words cannot express how delighted and pleased I am by the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We have worked hard to defend all the benefits provided in this landmark law and I am ecstatic to see this historic outcome.

"I am pleased that now we can move ahead with the progress that we have already made in our state and the steps we have taken to improve delivery systems. The ruling protects $100 million grant for the state and helps 500,000 Connecticut residents to get better healthcare at optimal cost.

"This is a victory for everyone in America and our state. Healthcare is for everyone and I commend the Supreme Court for their wisdom in understanding and preserving this law.”

Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate

“Whew! Supreme Court does the right thing. This is a good day for health care in America.”

U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon

“Today’s decision by the High Court is extremely disappointing. The American people were told that this legislation would lower costs. It hasn’t. They were told that it would not increase taxes. It does. The tax increases that finance this will devastate small businesses and middle class families.”

Susan Bysiewicz, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate

“Today's ruling was a victory for families and insures every American will get the care they need even if they can't afford health insurance.” 

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, in a statement to the media.

“The uncertainty created by the false questioning of the Act’s legality has been settled and states, insurance companies and businesses can move forward and keep carrying out the important health care and consumer protection provisions contained in the law.”


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