Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThese 5 People
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/06/28/507940/breaking-supreme-court-upholds-individual-mandate-as-a-tax/
The Supreme Court has upheld the individual mandate in Obamacare, paving the way for full implementation of the law in the states and ensuring that millions of uninsured Americans haves access to affordable coverage. The court upheld the provision as a tax. The Medicaid expansion is limited, but not invalidated, the court found. In short: the entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal governments power to terminate states Medicaid funds is narrowly read. Roberts joined Sotomayor, Breyer, Ginsburg, and Kagan in the 5 to 4 decision. Kennedy sided with the conservatives.
From the opinion: Our precedent demonstrates that Congress had the power to impose the exaction in Section 5000A under the taxing power, and that Section 5000A need not be read to do more than impose a tax. This is sufficient to sustain it.
Update
On the Medicaid issue, a majority of the Court holds that the Medicaid expansion is constitutional but that it would be unconstitutional for the federal government to withhold Medicaid funds for non-compliance with the expansion provisions. Here is the quote: Nothing in our opinion precludes Congress from offering funds under the ACA to expand the availability of health care, and requiring that states accepting such funds comply with the conditions on their use. What Congress is not free to do is to penalize States that choose not to participate in that new program by taking away their existing Medicaid funding.
From the dissent, Kennedy writes, In our view, the entire Act before us is invalid in its entirety.
full text of the decision is at link
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
4 replies, 1221 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (14)
ReplyReply to this post
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
These 5 People (Original Post)
cal04
Jun 2012
OP
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,726 posts)1. Amazing, wonderful news!
Little Star
(17,055 posts)2. I almost passed out that Roberts...
joined Sotomayor, Breyer, Ginsburg, and Kagan.
demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)3. I am a little surprised at Kennedy
I thought he was more intelligence than political
Little Star
(17,055 posts)4. That was also a surprise! But, Roberts knocked my socks off.