In what was viewed as a stunning decision by most pendants The United states Supreme Court ruled in favor of Obama’s Health Care reform Act, clearing the way for its full implementation. The Supreme Court upheld most of the president’s health care reform law, saying it was authorized by Congress’s power to levy taxes. The vote was 5 to 4, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joining the courts four more liberal members, according to the New York Times
The decision was a victory for President Obama and Congressional Democrats, affirming the central legislative pillar of Mr. Obama’s presidency. The ruling upheld the individual mandate requiring nearly all Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty.
Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the Majority Opinion, “The Affordable Care Act’s requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax”‘ “Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or pass upon its wisdom or fairness”.
The court did substantially limit a major piece of the law, one that expanded Medicaid, the joint Federal-State program that provides health care to the poor and disabled people. The seven justices agreed that Congress had exceeded its constitutional authority by coercing states into participating in the expansion by threatening them with the loss of existing federal payments.
But it was apparent in Justice Roberts dissertation that he did not want the court to get embroiled in a political issue. One of the more important passages in the Justice’s decision reflected this when he said ” We do not consider whether the act embodied sound policies. That judgement is entrusted to the Nations elected leaders. We ask only whether Congress has the power under the Constitution to enact the challenge provisions.” In short, if you want a national referendum on the health-care law, then the proper arena is the 2012 campaign – and not the inner sanctum of the Supreme Court.
Basically, the good justice informed the litigants in this case, they would decide the constitutionality of the law, but if one wanted to argue the pros and cons of Health Care Reform, take it to the 2012 campaign.
This decision therefore took the Supreme Court out of the argument over the ethics of Obama Care, and returned it to Congress and the people. The decision will thus be made in the November elections.
It did not take long for the Republican opposition to respond. Mitt Romney clarified that in order to get rid of Health Care reform, then we had to get rid of Obama in November. He said that one of his first acts as President, if elected, will be to repeal Obama-Care. But one must remember that Romney himself was an advocate of Health Care Reform in his own State. But now, out of the Blue he opposes the very concepts mandated in the State of Massachusetts by his own administration when he was Governor there.
Be that as it may, with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the President, this issue will no doubt be the Hot Button Issue of Campaign 2012.
Yep……..This thing ain’t over yet……Not yet……Not by a long shot!
That’s my Political Perspective………..What about yours?
Have a great night……….and as usual……God Bless America!
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