Home Headlines

KBTX.com Mobile >> Home Headlines

Send High Court Upholds Key Part of Obama Health Law

All fields are required

Back to Home Headlines

High Court Upholds Key Part of Obama Health Law

Posted: 7:22 AM Jun 28, 2012
Reporter: Associated Press

The Supreme Court has upheld the individual insurance requirement at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

The court on Thursday handed Obama a campaign-season victory in rejecting arguments that Congress went too far in requiring most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty.

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold President Barack Obama's sweeping health care law is a crucial election-year victory for the Democratic incumbent.

It also marks a pivotal point in the presidential race.

For Obama, the decision vindicates his most significant legislative accomplishment.

Republican challenger Mitt Romney opposes the health care overhaul and is expected to double-down on his campaign pledge to repeal the law if he is elected.

The high court announced Thursday that it was upholding the individual insurance requirement at the heart of the health care overhaul.
-----
Bill Flores Statement on Supreme Court's Health Care Ruling
06/28/12

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the news of the ruling, Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement:

“The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Obamacare is disappointing. It is important to note that the Court would not have been put into the position of having to review this legislation if the last Congress, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid had not passed this 2,700 page monstrosity in the middle of the night. Furthermore, the Court would not have had to review it if President Obama had not proposed to take-over the American health care system as one of his key initiatives. This is a sad day for America – a day when big government tramples American freedoms and our liberties.

"When this legislation was passed and signed into law, Democrats said it would create jobs, lower costs and enable you to keep your own plan and doctor. We now know that these claims are false. As the federal government has begun to implement pieces of Obamacare, we have recently learned that it would have cost an astounding $1.8 trillion, nearly double its original price tag. This ill-conceived legislation is also driving up healthcare costs and making it harder for small businesses to hire workers.

“When I came to Congress, one of my first priorities was work to repeal and replace Obamacare. Since being sworn in, I have voted 30 times to repeal, defund, or dismantle the Democrat takeover of health care.

“Congress must continue to work to fully repeal Obamacare and to facilitate reform of our health care system with the objectives of increasing healthcare access, lowering costs, and improving the stability of this important segment of our economy. We will be diligent and we will focus on private-sector solutions with inputs from patients, health care providers and health insurance providers. Americans deserve common-sense health care reforms that increase access to affordable, high quality care which strengthens the doctor-patient relationship and which gives American consumers a say in their health care.”

Over the next few days Congressman Flores will be hosting telephone town hall meetings to discuss Obamacare and other recent legislative activities in Washington.

-----
Sen. John Cornyn's Response to Health Care Law Ruling

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and former Texas Supreme Court Justice, today issued the following statement after the Supreme Court issued its decision on the President’s health care law:

“The Supreme Court made clear today that the American people will be the ultimate judge of ObamaCare. As Republicans, we will redouble our efforts to repeal this job-killing law.

“We must replace it with reforms that expand access and enhance care without adding trillions of dollars to the national debt and inserting Washington bureaucrats between Americans and their doctors.

“While I am disappointed in the outcome, there will be plenty of time to debate the Court’s decision; now we must focus on electing Republicans in November who will end ObamaCare and put Americans back to work.”

Senator Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Armed Services and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.
------
Senator Hutchison’s Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision on the Obama Health Care Law

Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision on the Obama health care law:

“The Supreme Court has declared the health care law constitutional, but that doesn’t make it good policy. In fact, the majority said it was not ruling on fairness or wisdom of health care policy, but instead on the power of Congress to levy taxes.

“The court’s ruling confirms the president’s health care law is nothing more than a massive tax on the American people.

“When the health care law is fully implemented, most Americans won’t be able to keep the coverage they have now. Their health insurance coverage choices will be decided in Washington, D.C., and there will also be new regulations to disrupt the doctor-patient relationship. $500 billion will be cut from Medicare to pay for full implementation of the health care law, plus $500 billion in higher taxes on individual Americans and businesses.

“From the start, Americans have had deep misgivings about government taking over health care, and these concerns have grown as they’ve learned more about how they will be affected. The Supreme Court’s ruling changes none of this. Americans will have an opportunity to do something about this on Election Day in November.”
-----
In related news...
Stocks of hospital companies are moving sharply higher after initial reports said the Supreme Court upheld the individual insurance requirement in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

HCA Holdings stock is up 10 percent. Community Health Systems is also up 10 percent.

Stocks of drug companies and medical device makers are slightly lower for the day as analysts sort through the Supreme Court's ruling. Stocks of the biggest insurance companies are also lower.