News / United States

All the Drama of the Supreme Court’s Obamacare Ruling

By: Lauren Saccone

After months of heated debate from both sides of the political spectrum, the Supreme Court has upheld President Obama’s healthcare plan. Besides serving as a major victory for President Obama in an election year, the ruling ensures continued healthcare coverage for many Americans.

“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,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts after the ruling. “Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness.”

The plan was upheld by a 5-4 vote among the justices. Dissenters wanted to strike down the entire law, though they did succeed in agreeing that Congress had overstepped its constitutional power when it required states to expand their Medicaid health insurance program for the poor.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney blasted the Supreme Courts’ decision in a press conference held just hours after the results were announced. He vowed that, if elected president come November, he would immediately repeal the plan.

“What the court did not do on the last day of its session, I will do on my first day as president,” he promised.

Conservatives are criticizing the Republican Justice Roberts for siding with the left in his decision, calling it a betrayal of the party. Some even took to twitter to proclaim that the ruling was the final straw in the series of liberal political victories in America and that they were moving to Canada, which we should note has socialized healthcare.   

President Obama has been pushing healthcare reform throughout his entire term, insisting that all Americans deserve access to medical treatment. It is believed this victory will prove a major point in his upcoming bid for reelection.

“Whatever the politics,” said President Obama in a press conference at the White House, “today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law, and the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it.”

[Pic via Flickr - angela n.]