Members of the U.S. Supreme Court waded Monday into the constitutional challenge to President Barack Obama's controversial health care overhaul.
‘Obamacare’ Challenge Begins In Supreme Court
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court waded Monday into the constitutional challenge to President Barack Obama‘s controversial health care overhaul.
The hearing, which lasted just under 90 minutes, was the first of three days’ worth of proceedings to determine whether justices will hear the case regarding the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”
Passed by Congress in 2010, the legislation aims to provide health insurance to more than 30 million uninsured Americans.
Attorneys on Monday argued whether it’s too early for the court to take up the case, since no one has paid a fine yet for not having health insurance.
Many left the court with the impression that the justices are prepared to deal with the constitutionality issue this year, rather than pushing it off to the mandate’s effective date in 2014.
Lawyers and attorneys general representing the 26 states challenging the law say they’re hopeful.
“I was pleased with today because I didn’t want to see this case bogged down on procedural issues like the anti-tax injunction act and it looks like we will be able to clear that hurdle without much of a challenge. So we will be able to get to the heart of the matter which involves the individual mandate,”” said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.
While arguments were going on inside the court, protestors for and against the health care laws rallied outside.
Even those in support of the law are hoping the issue will be resolved this year.
“It’s like turning an aircraft carrier. If we’re going to do it we need to know ahead of time, we need years of notice,” said Beth Israel Physician Dr. Cameron Page. “At my hospital if we’re going to make changes based on this law we need years ahead of time. I want to know in the next few months if this law is going to stand or fall.”
On Tuesday, the court will hear arguments over the individual mandate, which requires Americans to buy or get health insurance through their jobs starting in 2014 or face a penalty.
On Wednesday, lawyers will debate whether the rest of the law can take effect even if the mandate is declared unconstitutional.
The court will also hear arguments over whether the law goes too far in making states expand Medicaid by threatening to cut off federal aid if they don’t comply.
A decision is expected in late June.
There is no television coverage in the court, but audio recordings of the arguments are being uploaded each day online at www.supremecourt.gov.
DeClasse- Intellectual
The key provision is an active violation of the Constitution. It overrides the principle of seperation of rights and duties between the Federal government and the state’s governments. It thus violates the definition of inter and intra commerce. And, of course, it denies the indiviudal the right of choice. In order to finance the massive costs and the huge costs of the implied bureaucracy, medicare and social security funding will be stripped. And, not forget the attack on the human dignity with proposed rationing and end of life maniditory consuling in the Obama health care bill In fact the Obama administration has had a consistent campaign to attack indiviidual rights. And, Congressman Dingle has stated that the obama healthcare bill will be a tool to control the American public