Major health care victory for Obama
Source: Agencies |
June 29, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
The US Supreme Court yesterday upheld the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, handing him a huge political victory and keeping in force the legislative centerpiece of his term, a law aimed at covering more than 30 million uninsured Americans.
Speaking on national television from the White House, Obama said: "Whatever the politics, today's decision was a victory for people all over this country.
"It should be pretty clear by now that I didn't do this because it was good politics," he said. "I did it because it was good for the country."
The decision means the overhaul - opposed by virtually all Republicans including Mitt Romney, Obama's challenger - will continue to go into effect over the next few years, affecting the way Americans receive and pay for their medical care.
The decision sided with Obama on the centerpiece of the law, which requires all Americans to have health insurance or face a federal fine.
Republicans were quick to respond. "Today's Supreme Court decision sets the stakes for the November election. Now, the only way to save the country from ObamaCare's budget-busting government takeover of health care is to elect a new president," party Chairman Reince Priebus said.
Polls show a majority of Americans do not support the overhaul, which, ironically, was based on a plan put in place in Massachusetts when Romney was governor. While he defends the Massachusetts plan, he has said such changes should be left to individual states.
The law's centerpiece takes effect in 2014, at the same time the law would prohibit insurance companies denying coverage to people with existing health problems.
The law provides subsidies to help uninsured middle-class households pay premiums and expands federal health care for poor people.
The court did find problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid - health coverage for the poor - but said expansion could proceed as long as the government does not threaten to withhold states' Medicaid allotment if they don't take part.
Speaking on national television from the White House, Obama said: "Whatever the politics, today's decision was a victory for people all over this country.
"It should be pretty clear by now that I didn't do this because it was good politics," he said. "I did it because it was good for the country."
The decision means the overhaul - opposed by virtually all Republicans including Mitt Romney, Obama's challenger - will continue to go into effect over the next few years, affecting the way Americans receive and pay for their medical care.
The decision sided with Obama on the centerpiece of the law, which requires all Americans to have health insurance or face a federal fine.
Republicans were quick to respond. "Today's Supreme Court decision sets the stakes for the November election. Now, the only way to save the country from ObamaCare's budget-busting government takeover of health care is to elect a new president," party Chairman Reince Priebus said.
Polls show a majority of Americans do not support the overhaul, which, ironically, was based on a plan put in place in Massachusetts when Romney was governor. While he defends the Massachusetts plan, he has said such changes should be left to individual states.
The law's centerpiece takes effect in 2014, at the same time the law would prohibit insurance companies denying coverage to people with existing health problems.
The law provides subsidies to help uninsured middle-class households pay premiums and expands federal health care for poor people.
The court did find problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid - health coverage for the poor - but said expansion could proceed as long as the government does not threaten to withhold states' Medicaid allotment if they don't take part.
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