WASHINGTON (Official Wire) — The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld virtually all of President Barack Obama’s historic health care overhaul, including the hotly debated core requirement that nearly every American have health insurance.
The 5-4 decision meant the huge overhaul, still taking effect, could proceed and pick up momentum over the next several years, affecting the way that countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care.
The ruling hands Obama a campaign-season victory in rejecting arguments that Congress went too far in approving the plan. However, Republicans quickly indicated they will try to use the decision to rally their supporters against what they call “Obamacare,” arguing that the ruling characterized the penalty against people who refuse to get insurance as a tax.
Breaking with the court’s other conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts announced the judgment that allows the law to go forward with its aim of covering more than 30 million uninsured Americans. Roberts explained at length the court’s view of the mandate as a valid exercise of Congress’ authority to “lay and collect taxes.” The administration estimates that roughly 4 million people will pay the penalty rather than buy insurance.
Even though Congress called it a penalty, not a tax, Roberts said, “The payment is collected solely by the IRS through the normal means of taxation.”
Read More at OfficialWire. By Mark Sherman.
Photo Credit: Fresh Conservative (Creative Commons)
Related posts:
- Court Takes Health Care Case Behind Closed Doors The survival of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul rests…
- Biden Confident High Court Will Affirm Health Care Vice President Joe Biden says he’s confident the Supreme Court…
Get Informed! Read More About this topic::
- Surprise: New Insurance Fee In Health Overhaul Law WASHINGTON (AP) — Your medical plan is facing an unexpected...
- PA High Court Takes Hard Look At Voter Id Law PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court justices are weighing the...
[...] High Court Upholds Obama Health Law WASHINGTON (Official Wire) — The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld… [...]