WASHINGTON —
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the individual insurance requirement at the heart of President Barack Obama’s historic health care overhaul.
The decision means the huge overhaul, still only partly in effect, will proceed and pick up momentum over the next several years, affecting the way that countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care. The ruling also hands Obama a campaign-season victory in rejecting arguments that Congress went too far in requiring most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty.
Breaking with the court’s other conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts announced the judgment that allows the law to go forward with its aim of covering more than 30 million uninsured Americans.
The justices rejected two of the administration’s three arguments in support of the insurance requirement. But the court said the mandate can be construed as a tax. “Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness,” Roberts said.
The court found problems with the law’s expansion of Medicaid, but even there said the expansion could proceed as long as the federal government does not threaten to withhold states’ entire Medicaid allotment if they don’t take part in the law’s extension.
The court’s four liberal justices, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, joined Roberts in the outcome.
Justices Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented.
“The act before us here exceeds federal power both in mandating the purchase of health insurance and in denying non-consenting states all Medicaid funding,” the dissenters said in a joint statement.
Republican campaign strategists said presidential candidate Mitt Romney will use the court’s ruling to continue campaigning against “Obamacare” and attacking the president’s signature health care program as a tax increase.
“Obama might have his law, but the GOP has a cause,” said veteran campaign adviser Terry Holt. “This promises to galvanize Republican support around a repeal of what could well be called the largest tax increase in American history.”
Top News
Related Photos
-
William Temple, of Brunswick, Ga., waits outside the Supreme Court a landmark decision on health care on Thursday, June 28, 2012 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Discussion
NATION: High court upholds key part of Obama health law
- Top News
-
-
Council applies for bridge repair grant at Eightmile Creek Bridge
City officials are seeking a grant to repair a local bridge that is barely rated as usable and on the verge of being closed or condemned by the state.
-
Forever Wild an option for county schools’ Section 16 land
Cullman County school officials would consider the state’s Forever Wild program as a selling option for some valuable land on Smith Lake, though the board is still eyeing a variety of avenues to leverage the asset.
-
Six facing drug charges in separate arrests across county
Four people were arrested on multiple charges, including meth manufacturing, after deputies responded to a possible burglary-in-progress call around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.
-
Sex offender fails to register
Cullman City police officers responded to a domestic violence call late last week and left with one man arrested for failing to register as a sex offender.
-
Record Powerball jackpot inspires office pools
In workplaces across the nation, Americans are inviting their colleagues to chip in $2 for a Powerball ticket and a shared daydream.
-
Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Cullman County
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Cullman County.
-
Thunderstorms expected through tonight
Expect a lot of rain and some possibly strong thunderstorms through the afternoon and night across Cullman County.
-
ADECA bringing $49 million for tornado relief
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs announced a second round of funding, $49 million, coming to communities in North Alabama who suffered tornado damage from April 27, 2011 at a meeting in the Cullman City Hall on Tuesday morning.
-
Arrests, incidents reports for Thursday, May 16, 2013
Here is a look at the incidents that were reported to the Cullman City Police Department for Thursday:
-
'Prissy' brings warmth happiness to man, wife
Bill Smith couldn’t agree more that a dog is man’s best friend, as he and his wife’s pet Chihuahua has given them a new kind of hope.
- More Top News Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
