The United States Supreme Court on Thursday largely upheld President Obama’s controversial healthcare law by a narrow 5-4 majority.
Chief Justice John Roberts surprised many by siding with the four liberal justices in upholding the individual mandate to purchase health insurance, the central—and most contentious—provision of the law that many court watchers had predicted would be struck down as unconstitutional.
Though the Court ruled that the mandate was not permissible under the Commerce Clause, as the administration had argued in defense of the law, it also ruled the mandate could be upheld under the federal government’s power to tax. Had Roberts joined with the four dissenting justices, the entire law would have been invalidated.
The law’s supporters reacted triumphantly to the ruling.
“Today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law,” Obama said from the White House. “Today, I’m as confident as ever that when we look back five years from now, or 10 years from now, or 20 years from now, we will be better off because we had the courage to pass this law.”
DNC executive director Patrick Gaspard expressed his delight in more colorful fashion, tweeting: “it’s constitutional. Bitches.”
Republicans expressed disappointment with the ruling, but reiterated their pledge to repeal and replace the law should they take power in 2013.
“We cannot allow this healthcare law to go into effect,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.). “This problem will only be solved when we replace this president.”
Read more: http://freebeacon.com/win-some-lose-some/
Chief Justice John Roberts surprised many by siding with the four liberal justices in upholding the individual mandate to purchase health insurance, the central—and most contentious—provision of the law that many court watchers had predicted would be struck down as unconstitutional.
Though the Court ruled that the mandate was not permissible under the Commerce Clause, as the administration had argued in defense of the law, it also ruled the mandate could be upheld under the federal government’s power to tax. Had Roberts joined with the four dissenting justices, the entire law would have been invalidated.
The law’s supporters reacted triumphantly to the ruling.
“Today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law,” Obama said from the White House. “Today, I’m as confident as ever that when we look back five years from now, or 10 years from now, or 20 years from now, we will be better off because we had the courage to pass this law.”
DNC executive director Patrick Gaspard expressed his delight in more colorful fashion, tweeting: “it’s constitutional. Bitches.”
Republicans expressed disappointment with the ruling, but reiterated their pledge to repeal and replace the law should they take power in 2013.
“We cannot allow this healthcare law to go into effect,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.). “This problem will only be solved when we replace this president.”
Read more: http://freebeacon.com/win-some-lose-some/
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