More Dems vs Rep: Response To SCOTUS Healthcare Ruling

DC Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry:

“As a member of the Committee on Health, I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act.

Barry, who has struggled with his own healthcare issues said, “The Affordable Care Act expands health care coverage for low-income populations across the country such as Ward 8, which suffers from the greatest health disparity in the city due to lack of health care coverage, resources and poverty. Ward 8 residents and other low-income communities dis-proportionately suffer from diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Our children deserve better. Our parents deserve better. Our seniors deserve better.

“In upholding the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Supreme Court chose to put families first–protecting the lives of thousands of Washingtonians and millions of Americans. As the chairman of the Committee on Aging and Community Affairs, it makes my heart proud that the price of prescription drugs will be reduced for our seniors–that patients on Medicare will continue to receive free preventive services, and by 2014 all Americans will be guaranteed health care despite pre-existing conditions. Today’s landmark decision is a victory for all Americans."

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC):

“The decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act is one of only about a half-dozen memorable Supreme Court cases in the history of this country. I have believed since the case was argued that Chief Justice John Roberts would be the swing vote, not Justice Anthony Kennedy, because Kennedy tipped his hand during oral arguments. In abandoning his conservative colleagues on the bench, the Chief Justice acted judiciously, not politically, exercising the presumption that a law passed by Congress is constitutional. I applaud the administration and Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. for their understanding that the case for the individual mandate not only required briefing and arguing the Commerce Clause, but also the virtually unlimited taxing power of Congress, the sleeper tool in the case. As the House and Senate worked on the Affordable Care Act, members referred to paying a ‘penalty’ for not purchasing health insurance because Republicans have made ‘tax’ a dirty word in Congress. The court today ignored the talking points on both sides and looked to the law and to the reality of the virtually unlimited taxing power of Congress that has long been used to encourage behavior, whether it is raising taxes on cigarettes to discourage smoking, or taxing individuals who choose not to obtain health insurance.”

 Republicans feel abandoned.

"The Supreme Court has abandoned us," Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said.

"Today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States is simply disappointing," Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) said. "I stand with Justice Kennedy that the entire act should have been held invalid."

More here.