Chief Justice Roberts singlehandedly saves ObamaCare
The Supreme Court, by a 5-4 margin, sidesteps the Commerce Clause debate and validates the individual mandate as a constitutional exercise of Congress’ taxing power.
As a result, almost all of the act is upheld, thanks to Chief Justice Roberts siding with the majority. But by saving the law through the taxation argument, the court sidesteps endorsing an expansion of the commerce clause.
Fancy judicial footwork by the chief justice, I’d say.
The four justices in the minority wanted to toss the whole thing out, which again speaks to the role that the chief justice played. He wasn’t willing to go there — too radical an outcome for him, apparently — and he found a way to avoid it.
In fact, the deeper I read in the opinion and the dissents, the more apparent it is that Roberts undertook a major rescue operation. He was not willing to let the court take what he deemed to be a radical, even partisan course that would undermine its institutional credibility.
This ruling is as much about protecting the court’s integrity as it is about interpreting the law.
Here’s the core of what justices Scalia, Kennedy, Alito and Thomas said in dissent:
“The Act before us here exceeds federal power both in mandating the purchase of health insurance and in denying nonconsenting States all Medicaid funding. These parts of the Act are central to its design and operation, and all the Act’s other provisions would not have been enacted without them. In our view it must follow that the entire statute is inoperative.”
The court majority also endorsed language expanding Medicaid in the states, although it prevents the federal government from pulling Medicaid money as punishment for states that choose not to go along. That’s the extent of the conservative “win” in the opinion.
No wonder Scalia was in such a foul mood earlier this week. I suspect that mood is going to last a good long time.
– Jay Bookman
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1,313 comments Add your comment
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
June 28th, 2012
12:22 pm
“US in UK, you do know that we will be paying for other peoples health care don’t you ?”
you DO know that you already are
martin the calvinist
June 28th, 2012
12:23 pm
as I see it, we’ve lost our economic freedom today. Yes Jay our freedom, all you have to do now is get the right politicians in office and they decide for the environment buy a new all electric car, if you don’t we are going to force you to pay a penalty, or this, you need to install solar panels on your roof to help lower usage of coal, oil, ect.. you need to do your share to help promote clean energy and support that industry, if you don’t install solar panels, we will force you to pay a penalty…tell me where I’m wrong in this line of thinking. Or, are you happy to have this powerful of a gov’t that can tell you what you can or can not buy…
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
12:23 pm
Jay:
Michael G., if you don’t have it because you can’t afford it, the law offers you subsidies to bring the cost down. It also offers tax incentives to small businesses to offer their workers coverage.
Why have healthcare premiums skyrocketed since Obamacare was forced on us then??? TAX!!
getalife
June 28th, 2012
12:24 pm
roberto,
Papers please.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
12:24 pm
Anyone notice that the stock market dropped 70 points?
Now, the DJIA down about 140 points, or a little over just 1%.
Don’t try to make too much stew out of only one oyster.
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
12:24 pm
josef
Just keeping you in line. I don’t like this law either. That said, until we find a way to remove the middleman, we’re screwed anyway. My premiums will continue to rise. That’s why I locked in life insurance while I’m young and healthy. If you don’t know how to beat the system, then the system will screw you with no vaseline. I’m simply looking forward to the day when the system no longer screws people for the sake of it and actually tries to help people out.
josef
June 28th, 2012
12:24 pm
CURZEN
@ 12:19
Yep.
martin the calvinist
June 28th, 2012
12:24 pm
we are ruled by gov’t politicans that want to control us……this ruling is disgusting!
getalife
June 28th, 2012
12:25 pm
joey,
Calm down .
Sore lose much?
Tea Party Meber
June 28th, 2012
12:25 pm
No way do I want my taxes 2 pay 4 free abortions from this Obamacare.
gadem
June 28th, 2012
12:26 pm
The reality is, we have no option in this country other than to buy health insurance. It is irresponsible to NOT have health insurance. Those without health insurance will depend on other taxpayers to bail them out in case they have medical issues.
Mr. Snarky
June 28th, 2012
12:26 pm
Judge Roberts must have gotten the check from the Insurance Cos. Still at least everyone will have insurance.
Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
June 28th, 2012
12:26 pm
OMG,the Romney has spoken! He agrees with the dissent! The clouds have opened! The seas are parting. Someone grew a pair!
larry
June 28th, 2012
12:26 pm
Republicans had over 100 years to try to do something about the health care system. All we got was Health Savings Accounts no one could afford and tort reform.
And know they want to repeal a plan that their own standard bearer said should be an example for the rest of the country.
The President gave it to the rest of the country. Mr. Romney is in a big pickle. I want to see him try to defend his own plan.
josef
June 28th, 2012
12:26 pm
BROSEPHUS
Well, we know the Insurance Companies will get theirs…do 1865 ring a bell…
n
June 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
The Roberts Court would have lived on in infamy if the minority’s view had prevailed.
Obama the law professor was right all along. The Court would’ve ignored all precedent if it overturned the law.
The doctrine of stare decisis (the matter stands decided by legal precedent) is fundamental to our judicial system, even though it was totally ignored by the Roberts Court in Citizens United.
History would’ve recorded the Roberts Court as unequivocally partisan and completely outlaw if it had ruled otherwise.
This ain’t a football game. We’re not rooting for our team here. We’re dealing with the very fabric of our democracy, and the ties that bind us together as a functioning society. We are a country of laws, not men.
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
Roberto: you may has well throw them in the garbage, because the “swift boaters”, remember them, proved they are worthless.
martin the calvinist
June 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
just think of the irony, the Chief Justice, who Obama, Biden, and Reid voted against, was their biggest ally……
Rightwing Troll
June 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
“Why have healthcare premiums skyrocketed since Obamacare was forced on us then??? TAX!!”
Dear Chicken Little, Health Insurance premiums have been rising about 20%-30% a year the entire time I’ve been self employed (since 2003), no more, no less under Obama than under W…
larry
June 28th, 2012
12:28 pm
now….not know.
ken
June 28th, 2012
12:28 pm
+ a tax on my house when and if it sells
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
12:29 pm
getalife
Not banned, but staying here in real time doesn’t get things done.
I had to be here for this ruling, though.
Exploding heads and all that….
Midori
June 28th, 2012
12:29 pm
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/306707_10151068485986800_1386664810_n.jpg
Matti
June 28th, 2012
12:29 pm
Rightwing Troll
12:20 pm
It’s like the movie “Mars Attacks” when the grandma puts the yodeling music on…
Mary Elizabeth
June 28th, 2012
12:29 pm
The President began his remarks by saying that this decision should not be viewed as a partisan victory, but as a victory for the American people who will now be able to have the security of healthcare.
———————————
I wish to offer a moment of memory for, and gratitude to, the deceased Senator Edward Kennedy for his decades of unrelenting effort and commitment in trying to secure healthcare for all Americans as their right as Americans, and not simply as a privilege for the well-endowed and well-connected.
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
Rightwing Troll:
But didn’t Obama say Obamacare(TAX) would make our premiums go down?
WEthepeople
June 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
Democrats, Republicans and Independents as a whole do not want Obama Care. Many voters are saying they will remember these words when they go to the voting booth in November:
“I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.” – Barack Obama Today 06/28/2012 the Supreme Court called him a liar! It is a tax and the middle class will be affected and Barack Obama pledges mean nothing!
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
Tea Party Meber: No way do I want my taxes 2 pay 4 free abortions from this Obamacare.
There is no way I want my taxes to pay for the killing of innocent citizens of other countries because you guys seem to enjoy war.
martin the calvinist
June 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
I can see it now, vote Republican, they will take away your food stamps, your health care, your social security, your medicare. Democrats have dreamed for years of having this kind of political power over the people. we are truly a nation governed by people who do not care for us but their own political power and purposes.
Here we go!
June 28th, 2012
12:31 pm
If I am reading this correctly, SCOTUS stated this is not part of commerce but stated if you do not do as the law states (and now the law states you must have health insurance) youwill be penalized. How is that different from say, if you do not do as the law states (murder someone)you will pay a penalty? I know these two are not the same and murdering is different than healthcare, but if you look at the verbiage, isn’t that what the justices ruled?
getalife
June 28th, 2012
12:31 pm
Roberts is all about money.
Money trumps ideology.
Health insurance, drug and hospital companies wrote the bill silly.
It still helps millions of Americans so cons hate helping Americans.
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
12:31 pm
Anyone notice that the stock market dropped 70 points? Yeah…American’s won today….
How old are you?
Having been in the “market’ for over thirty five years, I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve seen the DJIA go down because of good news. Employment numbers go up? That’s bad news. Employment numbers go down? That’s bad news.
You wall Street suckups will never get it.
Your beloved Titans of Criminal Negligence and Malfeasance/Banksters on Wall Street are no different than the guys who own the casinos in Vegas.
Look at those palaces on the strip and in lower Manhattan.
Other than the architecture, there is no real difference.
They almost never lose and you almost never win…
larry
June 28th, 2012
12:31 pm
“Why have healthcare premiums skyrocketed since Obamacare was forced on us then??? TAX!!”
My premiums would have gone up if the ACA was overturned, so much so that i would have not been able to afford them. I’m just thankful my boss got that tax credit and then applied it to our premiums. It made our insurance affordable.
360,000 small business owners just breathed a sigh of relief.
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
12:31 pm
Justice Roberts just handed Mitt Romney the Presidency!!!
DebbieDoRight - Chocolate Coverered, Freak And Habit Forming
June 28th, 2012
12:32 pm
SoCoBro: Like the tag line too!!! I had to put that one away, but I think I’m pulling up my media player to listen to the Lollypop Man now..
Yep – was listening to some Parliament Funkadelic last night, decided to change my “tag”. Ya Dig? Here’s another one I like:
Someone asked me if there was life after death. I said 7-Up?
Man that’s CLASSIC!!! You can’t get more funkier than that!!! Ya Dig?!
MR: The defense cuts required by the budget compromise will cause our economy to lose from one million to one and a half million jobs directly from the military service and defense contractors. Indirectly another million will lose their jobs because of the reduction of money in the economy.
I thought that’s what you Tea Party’ers wanted, ………… less government! Are you trying to tell me that less government ONLY means people who work for the Department of Education and the Department Of Commerce; but NOT the Department Of Defense?
I am sooooo shocked!!!
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
12:32 pm
The defense cuts required by the budget compromise will cause our economy to lose from one million to one and a half million jobs directly from the military service and defense contractors.
Thank your Congress for that. Instead of agreeing to even $1 of revenue increases, they went the sequestration route. As much as I think it will harm our country, I hope that everything that suppose to go into effect on 1 Jan does so at full strength. Maybe putting everybody in cardboard boxes and eating gruel will teach those jackasses to think more about legislating instead of scoring ideology points that can be redeemed towards campaign contributions. Buncha jackasses.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
12:32 pm
Sorry Bernie. That was my bad. I meant I would be sending more than that to the OBAMA campaign. Romney isn’t getting a stinking penny from me.
Tundra Dude
June 28th, 2012
12:32 pm
a BINGO for Oscar:
Congratulations to the Heritage Foundation, Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich, Chuck Grassley, and especially Mitt Romney.
In fact, congrats to all the Republicans who developed, proposed and advocated for this health care plan for decades…implemented at the federal level…mandates and all.
No, they’re not opposed to the contents of the plan, including the mandate; they’re opposed to anything that Obama supports. Period. Full stop.
Paul
June 28th, 2012
12:32 pm
Roberto
“Ok liberals. You won this round. Now, let me hold your hand while you cross the street. After all, you have to have someone to lead you around.
Excuse me while I throw my USMC awards and promotion warrants in the garbage. ”
Oh, puhleeze…. for the umpteenth time… such drama from a guy who lived with government health care paid for by other people.
Tea Party Meber
June 28th, 2012
12:33 pm
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
Tea Party Meber: No way do I want my taxes 2 pay 4 free abortions from this Obamacare.
There is no way I want my taxes to pay for the killing of innocent citizens of other countries because you guys seem to enjoy war.
Its the price of fredom. U dont like it move to France…Or beter yet Russai
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
12:33 pm
Kam, some of the less lucid right wingers weighed in on your “banishment”.
T’was fun to watch…
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
12:33 pm
josef
Rings a few bells indeed!!!
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
June 28th, 2012
12:34 pm
Huge setback for Obama?
How amazingly, astoundingly, amusing.
Oh and ROBERTO
The Jeffersons crack is really disgusting and you are a pig.
Oblama
June 28th, 2012
12:34 pm
ObamaCare tax is O.K.’d by socialists on the court and socialism creeps on. Hitler ran for office as a socialist.
Sven Ottke
June 28th, 2012
12:34 pm
Largest tax increase in the history of the world. $1.3 billion.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
12:34 pm
Now, the DJIA down about 140 points, or a little over just 1%
Great time to buy. My money (for real) is on Intel and NVidia and some others. Also Mutual Funds…
but hey, what do I know? I just live in a tent or something
Adam
June 28th, 2012
12:35 pm
Oblama: Yeah Roberts, THAT SOCIALIST.
Doggone/GA
June 28th, 2012
12:35 pm
” If it’s better than the ACA, that may be enough for me to overlook my other worries about Romney and vote for him”
And if you do, nothing will happen…because if he gets elected there’s nothing he can do about the ACA. It’s who you vote for in CONGRESS that should be getting your attention. What to THEY want to replace it with?
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
12:35 pm
the Chief Justice, who Obama, Biden, and Reid voted against, was their biggest ally…
Good catch. I hadn’t thought of that.
Tea Party Meber
June 28th, 2012
12:35 pm
How much longer B 4 they take R guns?
Paul
June 28th, 2012
12:35 pm
Mary Elizabeth
Amen.
It isn’t perfect, but it’s a whole lot better than what we had before.
Aren’t you just tickled by all these hardcore, independent, get the government off my back types who are so ticked off that they’ll actually have to be responsible for providing for themselves and their families?
Manly men, all -
Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
June 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
Republicans and Independents as a whole do not want Obama Care.
They also don’t like the draft, beets, or being taxed. But we have to do what is best for the country, not for waht is best for Republicans and Independents.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
How much longer B 4 they take R guns?
50 days after NEVER
Mighty Righty
June 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
Dekalb comments
June 28th, 2012
12:20 pm
Let us set the facts straight.
Obama was opposed to an individual mandate during the 2008 election cycle. He did not believe it was essential to health care reform.
But the President doesn’t make law, Congress does.
No presedential signature, no health care law. He wrote the bill. He made congress pass the bill. He threatened congress. He personally called the reluctant members on the telephone. Make no mistake. This is his bill from top to bottom, although when it fails, we can count on him blaming bush.
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
Jay:
No comment on the huge TAX increase on the American people???
HOT AIR
June 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
High court says Obama mandate is a TAX and as good socialists they approve of tax and spend.
Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
June 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
Mary, good point about Teddy. He would be pleased.
Tundra Dude
June 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
Excuse me while I throw my USMC awards and promotion warrants in the garbage. ”
Oh, puhleeze…. for the umpteenth time… such drama from a guy who lived with government health care paid for by other people.
And probably still getting HC from that commie VA.
Luckily for him, they have psychiatric care.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
June 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
socialists and hitler?
please stop…I’m laughing so hard the tears are coming….
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
12:37 pm
DDR
Would you believe that I was accused of threating people simply because I quoted lyrics of “Chocolate City” here? Gainin’ on ya… Movin’ in around ya…
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
12:37 pm
Finn McCool (The System Isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign):
We will certainly see in November….
Goldie
June 28th, 2012
12:37 pm
Next up: “Single Payer, NOW!”
Adam
June 28th, 2012
12:37 pm
Make no mistake. This is his bill from top to bottom
THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT! Your CONSTITUTIONAL law will help more Americans get insured and help stop the costs from shooting through the roof like they were before.
From the Center
June 28th, 2012
12:37 pm
Thank God
June 28th, 2012
11:47 am
This is a good sign that they have some understanding of the situation the average American faces. Right or Left, when you are faced with a serious health issue it shouldn’t bankrupt you or your family. Healthcare must change. This for-profit system is immoral and needs to be changed.
It is also what drives the innovations we see in the Medical Industry
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
12:37 pm
Poor demented cons.
They so desperately wanted this one.
And had they gotten what they wanted, they would have screamed at the top of their lungs how it was a huge victory for the RINO Father of Socialized Medicine and how he was now assured of the White House.
So they get punked once again, gets their hats handed to them, eat a bunch of crow and guess what?
They scream at the top of their lungs how it is a huge victory for the RINO Father of Socialized Medicine and how he is now assured of the White House.
And here I thought it was only fourth graders who could pull that one off…
josef
June 28th, 2012
12:37 pm
“Anyone notice that the stock market dropped 70 points? Yeah…American’s won today….”
WellPoint has been holding steady at 65 all day following the announcement, opened at 68, dropped to 64 before the announcement…
Quagmire
June 28th, 2012
12:38 pm
Dekalb comments
June 28th, 2012
12:03 pm
Dekalb Comments, now that’s how you shut down someone(Eagle1) that only take talking points from their favorite TV or Radio shows. I believe you have “SWAGG” as the young folks put it………….
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
12:38 pm
Finn McCool (The System Isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign):
Kennedy is probably still rotting… Poor Mary Jo…
Goldie
June 28th, 2012
12:38 pm
“personal responsibility” used to be the GOP mantra… oh well!
Tea Party Meber
June 28th, 2012
12:38 pm
@ Adam
This is the fist step of the govt running R life. U no and I no that taking R guns R next.
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
12:39 pm
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
Tea Party Meber: No way do I want my taxes 2 pay 4 free abortions from this Obamacare.
There is no way I want my taxes to pay for the killing of innocent citizens of other countries because you guys seem to enjoy war.
Its the price of fredom. U dont like it move to France…Or beter yet Russai
So the price of freedom is killing innocent people? That’s scary.
Jefferson
June 28th, 2012
12:39 pm
Seems just yesterday Joseph was polishing his crystal ball, just to find out it was bogus…
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
12:39 pm
Brother AmVet
Yeah, I read that. I can manage my time better if I read through the comments after the chores are done. The down side is not being able to comment in real time, but too much is going undone.
Mary Elizabeth
June 28th, 2012
12:40 pm
Thank you for your responses to my comments, Finn McCool and Paul. May you now RIP, Senator Kennedy.
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
12:40 pm
JamVet:
They so desperately wanted this one.
You still don’t get it do you? Oblama will now have to run on TAXING the American people… Is this a winning proposition?
godless heathen
June 28th, 2012
12:40 pm
“2014 is the year you cons need to stop mooching and buy health insurance or pay the fine..”
getalife: Are you deranged or just confused?
SheezLouise
June 28th, 2012
12:40 pm
@Tea Party Member
STFU!! Come over to my place, I will let you borrow a few of mine. I ‘ve got PLENTY!!…and end your delusion, please.
Sincerely,
a “liberal”
getalife
June 28th, 2012
12:41 pm
Kam,
scout cried and missed you.
He thought he got you banned.
Jefferson
June 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
Reckon’ there are GOP schills in the place ?
josef
June 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
“Thank you, Mr. President and SCOTUS.”
–WellPoint, et al
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
socialists and hitler?
Socialists and hitler and Marx — OH, MY!
Tea Party Meber
June 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
So the price of freedom is killing innocent people? That’s scary.
They mess with America they aint inocent.
Butch Cassidy
June 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
You know what would really get the point across, is if Joseph could say TAX a few hundred more times. Geebus man, give it a rest.
TaxPayer
June 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
Republicans simply need time to progress through the seven stages of grief now that “Obamacare” is the constitutionally approved law of the land. It’s no different than the way Republicans are coping with Obama’s birthplace or with global warming. I think they’ve advanced all the way to the denial phase in the global warming issue, the anger phase in the healthcare issue and acceptance phase in the birth certificate issue. Okay. Acceptance may be a reach.
deca
June 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
Even though he voted to uphold the law, Chief Justice Roberts thinks it’s a stupid one. His opening statement says, and I quote, “We do not consider the Act embodies sound policies. That judgement is entrusted to the Nation’s elected leaders. We ask only whether Congress has the power under the Constitution to enact the challenged provisions.”
So Roberts was only voting on the Constitutionality of a flawed, ridiculous bill. He was doing his job even though he knew the long term outcome will eventually pull this nation under financially.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
12:42 pm
This is the fist step of the govt running R life. U no and I no that taking R guns R next.
Oh go cry in the corner with your Reagan doll
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
12:43 pm
It’s who you vote for in CONGRESS that should be getting your attention. What to THEY want to replace it with?
True. I figure about 85% (historical average) will return, so we won’t see any semblance of a plan anyway. I’m just curious if Romney will, for the first time, give us a detailed plan on anything.
Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
June 28th, 2012
12:43 pm
Oblama will now have to run on TAXING the American people
Becasue he can’t run on the improving economy, right?
josef
June 28th, 2012
12:44 pm
K’chak
Good to see ya. The Imam told us you weren’t banned. I figured you probably had peas to pick!
CalmReasoningAndCommonSense
June 28th, 2012
12:44 pm
The use of federal taxation to encourage economic activity which promotes public policy, and to discourage economic activity which undermines public policy, has a long and venerable history. Think, for instance, of the mortgage-interest deduction — in effect a federal tax imposed on people who rent rather than own their homes.
As Justice Roberts notes in his majority opinion, the amount of the so-called “penalty” in the ACA is a payment to the IRS which is determined by familiar features such as taxable income, number of dependents, and joint filing status. This payment to the IRS looks like a tax, walks like a tax and quacks like a tax. It is paid to the IRS in the same manner as other taxes. If it weren’t for the toxic political atmosphere that has developed around the word “tax” the drafters of the ACA almost certainly would have called the penalty what it is — a tax imposed by the federal government to discourage healthy persons from gaming the guaranteed-coverage provisions of ACA by not purchasing health insurance until after they get sick.
Justice Roberts seems to be a principled but also pragmatic man. He was probably sickened by the political gamesmanship and disingenuous wordsmithing that led the drafters of the ACA to call a tax a penalty. But he realized, correctly, that overly-clever draftsmanship is not grounds for the United States Supreme Court to declare a duly-adopted act of Congress unconstitutional.
Justice Roberts seems to have been stuck in the middle, between four justices who wanted to uphold ACA on broad grounds and four justices who wanted to throw the statute out entirely. He wisely chose a middle ground, and agreed to join a majority decision upholding the ACA on narrow grounds that recognize the unique political circumstances and history that led to the passage of ACA in its final form. Despite the shrill comments of opponents of ACA, today’s decision is likely to have little if any precedential value. It specifically DOES NOT allow the federal government to regulate anything merely because it exists. Rather, the decision merely re-affirms the power of the federal government to use its taxing power to discourage actions that undermine federal statutes which have been approved by a majority vote of Congress. That power has never been questioned and today’s decision does nothing to expand it.
getalife
June 28th, 2012
12:44 pm
godless,
Just the facts con.
The fine in the first year is around three hundred.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
12:44 pm
You still don’t get it do you? Oblama will now have to run on TAXING the American people… Is this a winning proposition?
Missed the whole point about how this is toothless?
You’re not going to get any more votes out of this. The people that were going to vote for Romney are already going to vote for Romney. The Independents are RELIEVED that their small business and individual tax credits for health care aren’t going away.
Tea Party Meber
June 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
1 of the sadest days in US history. Ranks up there win Iraq atacked the US
HOT AIR
June 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
Again another big socialist program that the Fed government can’t fund. When will we learn? All of this will matter not – in 2013 the big “D”will wipe out ObamaCare and send Obama packing.
zeke
June 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
people forget this came i believe from heritage foundation ….how quickly we forget
http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2011/10/20/how-a-conservative-think-tank-invented-the-individual-mandate/
fan
June 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
Point proven,the Supreme Court no longer serves the interest of the American People and uphold the Constitution. It’s about serving the the president and making themselves not look bad.
barking frog
June 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
This will probably mark the
end of any chance for
single payer health insurance for all. Dems have
their law. Repubs can rail
against it. win/win. the
repubs actually wanted it
anyway.
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
You still don’t get it do you? Oblama will now have to run on TAXING the American people… Is this a winning proposition?
Who do you think pays for those tax breaks the republicans give to the rich and romney wants to give the more. That’s an indirect tax on all of us.
larry
June 28th, 2012
12:46 pm
Isnt Romney being hypocrital when he wants to repeal a plan that he put in place as a Governor that just survived a Supreme Court challenge?
That was his plan that was before the court. And some on the right thinks the decision handed the presidency to him. I dont think so.
Grasshopper
June 28th, 2012
12:46 pm
Chief Justice Roberts – The New Darling of the Left
What was that Jay said earlier? The huaghty Supreme Court?
Now it’s smooches and hugs.