28 Jun 2012

Reactions to the Supreme Court ruling on Healthcare Decision

By Various sources

Schilling Statement on the Supreme Court's Health Care Ruling
"Illinoisans deserve policies that reduce the cost of care and improve its quality without increasing taxes"

Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) released the following statement after the Supreme Court announced its ruling to uphold the President's health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in its entirety, ruling that its individual mandate is a tax:

"Like many folks throughout Illinois' 17th Congressional District I'm disappointed by today's ruling, but the fact is that the President's health care law will cost trillions of dollars while doing absolutely nothing to address the rising cost of health care," Schilling said. "The opportunity remains for folks in Washington to come together in support of policies that address the rising cost of health care and put patients and their doctors back in charge of health care decisions, without this tax. I will continue working to roll back the harmful parts of this law so we can get health care reform done right. We can start over and in a transparent fashion work to enact bipartisan, step-by-step reforms that guarantee folks in Illinois and throughout the country are able to access health care that is affordable, convenient, and high quality."

Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, health insurance premiums continued to rise. - while President Obama once promised that premiums would fall by an average of $2,500, but they have already risen by $2,213 during his administration. Despite its major provisions not taking full effect until 2014, it has been estimated that the President's health care reform law has already added more than 12,000 pages of regulations and Federal Register notices. It also creates as many as 159 new commissions, boards, and programs.

The Administration argued repeatedly as it was working to advance the President's health care reform law that its individual mandate (which required nearly all Americans to purchase health insurance) was permissible under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, and that it wasn't a tax. The Supreme Court ruled today, however, that the penalty a person must pay if they refuse to purchase health insurance is a tax that Congress can impose using its tax authority. Under this ruling, the individual mandate survives as a tax, now leaving Americans with the choice between paying either higher insurance premiums or a massive tax.

The House of Representatives has voted 30 times over the last year and a half on various proposals to repeal, defund, or dismantle the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Furthermore, five pieces of the law have been repealed or had their funding rescinded. Click here to view Schilling's plan for quality, convenient, patient-centered, and truly affordable health care.

"True health care reform shouldn't raid Medicare, ignore the skyrocketing costs of care, limit the private sector's ability to grow jobs, and put unelected bureaucrats between patients and their doctors," Schilling said. "The time is now to work together and advance policies to save Medicare for our kids and grandkids, make care more affordable, provide the private sector with the confidence necessary to hire our unemployed friends and family, and put patients and doctors back in charge of their health care decisions."

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To send Congressman Schilling an e-mail, click here

Braley Statement on Supreme Court Healthcare Decision

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act:

"The Supreme Court got it right today. This decision is good news for the middle class and affordable healthcare. It makes me think of thousands of Iowans like my nephew, Tucker. Tucker survived a fight with liver cancer at age 2 because his family had health insurance. But his parents lived in constant fear of losing their jobs because Tucker would be denied new insurance due to his pre-existing condition. The healthcare reform law ended those fears -- and this decision means many other critical reforms will stay in place.

"From allowing 18,000 Iowans to stay on their parents' insurance up to age 26, to requiring insurance companies cover screenings for diseases like breast cancer, to saving Iowa seniors hundreds of dollars per year on their Medicare prescription drugs, the law's positive impact on Iowa is just beginning to be felt.

"It's not a perfect law. That's why I'll be working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to improve it and make it better."

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Branstad and Reynolds release statements on Supreme Court ruling

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released the following statements on the United States Supreme Court ruling of Obamacare.

Gov. Branstad:

"Today, the Supreme Court handed down a disastrous decision to uphold President Obama's destructive health care law, which means a future of higher costs, higher taxes, and increasing debt for Iowans. The current health care system is nothing but a federal takeover and continues to exceed its budgeted amount every day. But, as Governor Romney has said many times, no matter what may happen in Court, the American people must remain vigilant in their fight to repeal the law. Our goal is for Iowa to become the healthiest state in the country and to do so Iowans will need to take ownership of their own health to reduce health care costs and lead healthier lives."

Lt. Gov. Reynolds:

"America needs real health care reform and we need Governor Romney in Washington. Gov. Romney will enact real reforms to ensure that the future of Iowa and America as a whole can replace Obamacare with solutions that put Iowans in control of their own health care and preserve the economic future of Iowa's next generation. "

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Loebsack Statement on the Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued their decision on the Affordable Care Act.

"Today's decision will bring stability and certainty to Iowans as they make critical health care choices for themselves and their families. It maintains protections for those who have pre-existing conditions, ensures no Iowan will be denied coverage, and that young Iowans can stay on their parents' health care plans until they are 26. Additionally, this ruling affirms that preventative care will be provided without a co-payment, and that those who lose their jobs will not lose their coverage. It also prevents women from being charged higher premiums simply because they are female, and prohibits pregnancy from being treated as a pre-existing condition. Further, the Medicare prescription drug donut hole will be completely closed by 2020, through reforms that are already saving our seniors $650 each this year.

"As we move forward, the bill is not perfect and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the Affordable Care Act is enacted in a way that will reduce health care costs and help bring stability to Iowans during these difficult economic times."

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Statement from Lt. Governor Simon on Supreme Court decision

CHICAGO - June 28, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act:

"The Affordable Care Act is a good law. It helps seniors, young adults and middle class Americans receive stronger, more affordable care. It promotes preventive care, such as checkups and mammograms. And it prevents insurance companies from denying care to people with pre-existing conditions or charging women more based on their gender. The Supreme Court ruling today upholds these commonsense protections and puts our country on a healthier path. In Illinois, I encourage our state leaders to use this ruling as a backdrop as we set policies to make our citizens healthier, train the next generation of health care workers, grow local food systems and find other opportunities to move our state forward."

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Governor Quinn Statement on Supreme Court Decision Upholding Affordable Care Act

CHICAGO - June 28, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement hailing today's decision of the United States Supreme Court to uphold the federal Affordable Care Act.

"Today is a great day for Illinois and a great day for our country. This decision means that millions of working families across Illinois will continue to receive better healthcare.

"These historic reforms that are strengthening our healthcare system will continue to benefit young people, those with pre-existing conditions and care providers.

"We took a big step forward today as a nation and state, and I will continue to work with President Obama to help working families get the healthcare coverage they need."

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Health, Medicine & Nutrition

Author

Rick Martin

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