Congressman Bill Flores of Bryan and State Senator Charles Schwertner of Georgetown, who represents Brazos County and is the chairman of the Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, issued statements following the U.S. Supreme Court 6-3 ruling upholding the nationwide tax subsidies for Obamacare.
Statement from Congressman Bill Flores:
“I am deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s ruling today and disagree with their decision to save Obamacare by ignoring the plain text of the law. The Court’s ruling does not change the fact that millions of Americans are still being hurt by Obamacare. Hardworking Americans now know that access to a subsidy does not mean they will have access to improved care. The president said Obamacare would increase access to improved health care, lower insurance premiums, let you keep your doctor and let you keep your health plan; all of the president’s promises have been proven false. For that reason, a strong majority of Americans oppose Obamacare. Conservatives in Congress remain committed to fully repealing Obamacare and implementing truly affordable, patient-centered health care reform.”
The Republican Study Committee has released its own health care reform plan, the Americans Health Care Reform Act (ACHRA). The plan will repeal Obamacare, establish patient-centered reforms and develop free-market solutions for America’s health care sector to lower costs and improve access.
Statement from State Senator Charles Schwertner:
“Over the past five years, we’ve seen Obamacare repeatedly changed and contorted through executive actions by President Obama and controversial judicial decisions by the United States Supreme Court. This morning’s ruling represents the latest tortured attempt to preserve a law that is fundamentally flawed and unworkable. As an American, I find it troubling that the letter of the law can be so easily subjugated to some implied legislative intent that exists only in the minds of a few congressional lawmakers in Washington, DC.
“This is a sad day for American healthcare and a sad day for the American legal system.”
Original story:
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Supreme Court has upheld the nationwide tax subsidies under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, in a ruling that preserves health insurance for millions of Americans.
The justices said in a 6-3 ruling Thursday that the subsidies that 8.7 million people currently receive to make insurance affordable do not depend on where they live, under the 2010 health care law.
The outcome is the second major victory for Obama in politically charged Supreme Court tests of his most significant domestic achievement.
Chief Justice John Roberts again voted with his liberal colleagues in support of the law. Roberts also was the key vote to uphold the law in 2012.
Justice Anthony Kennedy also voted with his more liberal colleagues.