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For President Obama and Democrats, the politics of health-care reform haven't been pretty.
Not only do polls still show that more Americans believe the overall health-care law passed in 2010 is a bad idea than good idea, Democrats paid a deep price for passing the reform.
In the '10 midterms -- waged over the health-care law, the stimulus, and the state of the economy -- Republicans picked up 63 House seats, six Senate seats, and several governor's mansions. It was a rout.
But the early significance of today's 5-4 Supreme Court decision upholding the health-care law is that political price wasn't in vain.
Make no mistake: The Supreme Court overturning the health-care would have been a body blow for the president and his party. All the negotiations, the arm-twisting, the speeches, and the compromises would have been for naught.
For Obama, his chief domestic achievement -- the biggest since the LBJ years -- is upheld.
For congressional Democrats -- even those who were ousted in 2010 -- they have a major legislative accomplishment to tout.
How the Supreme Court's health-care decision plays out in the 2012 presidential election remains a mystery. It could energize conservatives angered by the ruling. It could fire up Democratic voters. Or it could, as our NBC/WSJ co-pollsters have suggested, actually change public opinion about the health-care law.
It's also unclear if the legislation, in the long run, ends up bending health care's cost curve (as Democrats claim it will), or if it ends up raising premiums and costs (as Republicans claim).
But here's what we can say: The court's ruling today -- by a narrow 5-4 decision -- preserves Democrats' domestic-policy achievement for the history books.
Leave a Comment:
I do not agree with it, however it is what it is until we start to see what else is in the bill.
I believe that for now it stands as it is however, did anyone pay attention to what Roberts said.
The fight continues.
The Truth is that:
When the component parts of the Affordable Care Act are explained folks, a majority of Americans are decidedly IN FAVOR.
The spin from the Right has been relentless and has skewed that, and the facts of the bill.
Right now, 3.1 million more young folks are covered under their parents' plans. Seniors have less expensive meds, children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied, free preventive care - mammograms, etc. Women cannot be charged more than men. Insurance companies must provide 80% of your payment, or REBATE.
In 2014, more than 30 million people who never had health care will have it for the first time via exchanges.
CC: I guess that since Fox has not yet spelled out what else is in the bill, you haven't been able to discover it on your own.
The interesting thing is that the Court's opinion does not strike down the Medicaid Expansion, only the ability of the Director of HHS to penalize a state for not expanding Medicaid. Thus, if a state chooses to participate in the expanded Medicaid, it can. It really does help to read the law and the actual opinion of the Court.
@ CC --
Sad to say, you are correct in your analysis.
This is true only if their state opts in to Medicaid expansion. By challenging the ACA, 26 states, at least, have already signaled that they may not do so.
@ dirp --
CC is right. Many people don't realize that 26 states challenged the law because of the Medicaid expansion provision. How many of those 26 states do you expect to opt in, when Justice Roberts just gave them license to opt out? Others may do the same when they realize they can.
The upshot is that poor people in those states still will not be able to get health care, and ironically, may be required to pay an additional tax besides.
The words "pyrrhic victory" are starting to come to mind.
I for one agree with CC.
If the State I am living in decides to tell the Feds where to get off - I will not pay taxes to the Feds to cover their silly program.
If the Feds want to compel me to pay taxes - I will bring the issue back to the SCOTUS.
V for 'victory'
Thanks Pres. Obama
4 more years!
if it is so good, why is the stock market taking a dump?
I will have to wait and see with all the new bank fees added and home sale 3.8% tax how people really feel about this "ACA"
What do bank fees and home sale tax have to do with health insurance? Are you that daft?
How do the 22 million unemployed pay for their govt mandated health insurance? Do they have a secret stash somewhere?
Can't wait for the Casket Tax next, because at some point democrats will tell me how to die!
Now?
(just kidding -- later will be fine)
Actually, just a 25-point dump.
At most, if they had enough income to meet the thresholds, they would pay the tax.
Universal health care would, of course, solve this problem.
What will them dumbasses mandate next , that you have to keep illegals in your home and take care of their every need, It just goes to show that a college educated person can still have shi. for brains, just another reason to vote for Romney. Isnt it just a great country when 9 people can tell over 300 million what they have to do and how they will live, hile Hitler.
Not all of the unemployed don't have health insurance. Some maybe covered under their spouse, some maybe veterans, some maybe under 26, et. al.
Well....just a great country that elected Bush twice and revoked your writ of habeus corpus simply because it made it harder for him to evade your privacy on the internet and cell calls.
LOL, no I just think you have s##t for brains, and quite possibly, not college educated, so go ahead and vote for Etch-A-Sketch.
There are enough sour grapes from the right this morning, you could fill a tanker full of vinegar!
Instead of Otis & his minions planning another vote to repeal this law, wouldn't their time be better served in sitting down with the Democrat's and working out ways to tweak it to make it better?
By the way, how many jobs bills are scheduled for next month?
Anyone...???
Mark, very thoughtful article. Thank you. It's always a pleasure to get your take on things. And if you weren't aware, but quite often your articles are quoted all across the internet.
That's the highest compliment for any journalist with integrity. Your input matters. I don't recall anyone accusing you of bad journalism.
Thanks for the kind words, Pat!
By the way, how many jobs bills are scheduled for next month?
Jobs? {snark on} "When we said we create jobs, we meant for US; not the USA".
The GNOP isn't concerned about creating jobs or doing anything to benefit the American public other than the top 1% earners. They didn't want affordable healthcare for the other 99% and certainly prove with each passing day that JOBS aren't their concern.
The GNOP is always so busy trying to undermine everything the President does that they don't have time to get anything done that would create jobs for anyone other than themselves. But come November, many, many of them will be looking for jobs!
Good Morning Feisty .. I am having trouble finding the D. Gregory coverage of the SCOTUS ruling. Can you point me to the links? I am interested in observing his reactions - I used to be a fan of his reporting until he took over MTP and began his decidedly biased reporting. Perhaps we could get Mark of Domenico to take over .. they do a good job of keeping partisan politics out of their reporting.
Fiesty
Some one has to do whats good for the Nation. Your party will not. Lets take the senate and repeal this once and for all.
Mark Murray - all kidding aside - who do we go to in order to complain about David Gregory. I can't stomach watching MTP any more and I used to absolutely love it. Watching Gregory pontificate for the GOP is beyond old.
And, Mark, you did a great job this morning!
Red,
Here you go;
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/28/12460521-roberts-goes-the-other-way-of-courts-conservatives?lite
rukidding - you're mistaken. it is the GOP who refuses to do what is right for this country. They had time and chose to do nothing - not during the 8 years Bush was President. They chose to sit on their hands when President Obama was putting his plan together.
Once he submitted his plan they cried foul - then still came up with nothing!
The GOP is a total and complete failure. They have no one but themselves to blame!
Obama/Biden
I, for one, am now a Socialist! (was independant).
Yo AnnaMollie, the Republican Washington State Attor. General Rob McKenna took it upon himself (political game) to join the fight against the Afordable Care Act. The rest of the Washington State government (mostly Democrats- did not want him to waste our state money!) So you are making assumptions incorrectly that Washington State was fighting the Affordable Care Act when it was a Rebublican minority.
PS we have 2 women federal senators and a woman govenor, all Democrats.
Seeking sanity you better seek where your head is stuck, You mean the dem liberals are a bunch of idiots, I am sorry their not smart enough to be idiots thats an insult to idiots. Why is white trash drawn to Obama like flies to crap , are they that really stupid or is it their up bringing.
America now joins Canada, Australia, Japan, and Europe in getting everyone covered with health insurance. Trust me, we will survive. And the media may even begin to explain how the bill works, how it will reduce the number of bankruptcies due to medical bills, how much freedom it will give people who want to be self-employed, and how many lives it will save.
The ball is in your court, msm.
As long as our tax rates don't go the way of Europe and Canada. 40% and up.
We already pay close to 40%.
You must be a one percenter.
So, Amy this is a bailout for those who rack up huge medical bills, interesting! I think you hit the nail on the head here, bravo!
And to those who (unwillingly) V for vectory
Edit 3.4
* And to those who (unwillingly) rang up those huge medical bills, V for victory!
Talk to the Hand,
We are currently spending $1,500,000,000,000 a year MORE than we receive in taxes -- this is our annual deficit. Our total debt (of deficits EVERY year since 1956) is now about $15,820,000,000,000. If our tax rates were 40% it would still not cover or annual defcit. If we taxed 100% (YES -- EVERY PENNY) made by EVERY PERSON for the next 10 years and continued to spend like we do, we would still not have our accumulated national debt paid off.
The obvious answer is not how much we tax... but how much we spend. Add in the MASSIVE costs of ObamaCare (at the very least to insure the 22,000,000 ununsured currently at $4,000+ a year per person not even counting our government inefficiencies) for a total of about $1,000,000,000,000 in additional deficit, and our debt will NEVER be paid off! You children and grandchildren are destined to be the financial (and perhaps more) slaves of China!
sirie, do you think anyone WANTS to "rack up huge medical bills"? You comment sounds like you think we do it for fun, or in order to get "bail outs". I hope you never get cancer and discover how much chemotherapy costs.
When Obama speaks on the law later today, I hope he stick a shiv to good old Willard by reminding the country that the law is based in large part on Romneycare. Now we need to improve it by adding a public option.
Romney. What a moron.
Hey Pat from Boston MA - What's your beef with Romney (besides being Republican)... Didn't he sign the MA version of the Health Care act into law.
How's it working out - maybe we can extrapolate the results and I can Vote for Obama in November - convince me.
Pat must have moved onto the next board...
Pat in boston my belief is the further north you go the dumber people get and your proof that I am right, Mr. Obama's I.Q. is about 115 and the I.Q. of those who voted for him about 7 , he sure made idiots out of a lot of people, and if you have enjoyed your hope and change, maybe being unemployed, your wealth is 39 percent less than 4 years ago and you voted Obama in office , Justice served.
I thought Obaaaaaama said the mandate/penalty was not a tax? Liar.
His real name on his birth certificate is Barack Obamatard , when he moved to this country he dropped the tard , and I believe there was a village in Kenya looking for an Idiot but when they had seen what he has done to this country they decided to leave him where he's at.
Talk to the Hand
I thought Obaaaaaama said the mandate/penlty was not a tax? Liar.
No, Boehnoer is 2x a Liar. He said he wouldn't spike the ball. Yet, he now wants to waste time and money repealing it.
Boehnoer also said he'd give us J-0-B-S. Where are they?
GOP/T-Baggers have nothing but broken promises;
particularly where J-O-B-S are concerned. It's been 540 days since the Republicans have picked up the gavel; yet have failed to produce zero (0),
nada, zilch jobs.
http://www.whenarethejobs.com/
It is not a waste of money. Obama care is but not the repeal of it.
Yes for shame on the GOP to want to overturn a Tax. You know the one Obama said it was not, but in court argued it was and thus the IRS will monitor and enforce.
beverly in chicago you cant get anything done when you have a dumbocrat prez and dumbocrat senate , you must have S.F.Brains. OH I am sorry your one of those dumb northern liberals. to fix that you get a rope ,throw one end around a tree branch and wrap the other end around your neck and jump out of the tree and we have one less dumb person in this country.
*Sigh*
Another Republicon troll that is, also, a hick. Hey, boy, you lost?
People like you have nothing of significance to contribute (um, that means share), so I really don't know why you want to insult anyone when you have nothing to add?
Take that BS to where you belong.
Bahrrt if you read this I did say something , to many dumbazz people in this country , they need to devide this country, the conservatives live in the south and the dumbazzes live in the north whick means a lot of you wont have to relocate.
Beve, I'm sorry but two lies (one from each side) does not make one thruth.
I don't see it that way at all: I see it as a choice: Buy insurance or pay a tax.
Judyaz - and what if I cannot afford to "Buy" insurance. The rate quoted to me is $1350 for "Family" coverage - $5000 deductible 80/20 - non risky lifestyle (Hetrosexual, non smoker, a few beers a month) - no pre-existing conditions.
Sounds like I can pay a $8000 tax and have no insurance, or $21000 and have any procedure I might need. (16,000 +5000).
I breathe - therefore I must be taxed.
Judyaz - He said it wasn't a tax but a penalty/fine for not having insurance. Tax was a bad word to the US public. Now the SCOTUS has conveniently reworded that part to make it a tax and therefore constitutional. I don't hear him saying "no, no Supremes, it isn't a tax. It's a fine I tell ya a fine".
What are you going to do if your so poor you cant afford insurance or make enough to pay the tax ........let me guess jail time., I only make 7600.00 a year after I pay my rent each year , this is rent only and my wife cant find a job , has been out of work for 3 years.........what is the soultion you smart people that think Obama care is so great.
Yes, nothing like more taxes to make a Dem happy.
President Obama is the Greatest President this country has ever seen or had. Congrats Mr. President for saving this country! Now on to even greater success.
m Rand your proof that you cant fix stuip or cure ignorance , are you one of the 15 people that stand behind him when we see him on t.v.. Your statement proves your not smart enough to be stupid.
Dear Friends:
Earthlings what about those that come here from other nations but have business or trade here but are not paying income taxes? Will that mean the will have a withhold on State and Federal income health care tax? Their babies? Tarriff health care tax? Foreign national health care income tax? How much what rate?
Dear Friends:
Will all businesses drop healthcare? What about the sole proprieter? What if the company deducts this tax and keeps the money or does not pay? Or goes bankrupt? will it be the same healthcare as we get now? What about government employees, native Americans? Abortion? Eboli? Travelers needing health care? Mental health care? Prisons? State, County, Federal, City? Students? Will Medicare be gone? Pharmacutical? Limits in Care? Family care deductions? Foster care? Adoption? Orphans? Emergency? What will happen to the cost of a sanitary napkin, diaper for hospitals or is it a government tax rate?
Dear Friends:
Earthlings in the USA! How much will the health-care tax be? When will it start? will it be quarterly income? Does that mean that Businesses or sole proprietor or partnerships will pay different amounts than a Hamburger employee?
Earthlings what if they do not pay taxes? Earthlings in the USA does this mean all will have this not matter what nation on Earth they are from? Same Rate?
How about those that are unemployed, do not receive unemployment, it ran out, and no more extensions, workers comp, disabilities, injured veterans, those that are not retirement age, and cannot make the tax payments because of no income, no unemployment (appeal) or no extensions, penalties adding up?
Earthlings how about Mercy Mercy Religious hospitals will they have to do what Obama says no matter what their faith and will this tax, this tax, this pay for foreign nationals? County? State hospitals? Veterans Hospitals?
What and who decides which insurance companies will receive our federal health care tax dollars? We the people did not vote for this tax? What about the sovereignty nations citizens? Are their casinos going to be taxed? Build prisons will health tax evaders be imprisoned?
Free China and other health care in the USA! Earthlings in the USA they will come more and from farther. All the little islands, Arabs, Hebrew Holy Cow?
Will they allow private hospital rooms or wards? Will there be tiered medical privileges and care?
Unlimited? Outer space income? Our space station or their or other planets?
Dear Friends:
Which candidate said he would raise taxes? Royalty income, override interest income, dividend income, based on all income or a flat rate for health care tax?
Dear Friends:
Earthlings what about those that come here from other nations but have business or trade here but are not paying income taxes? Will that mean the will have a withhold on State and Federal income health care tax? Their babies? Tarriff health care tax? Foreign national health care income tax? How much what rate?
Dear Friends:
Will all businesses drop healthcare? What about the sole proprieter? What if the company deducts this tax and keeps the money or does not pay? Or goes bankrupt? will it be the same healthcare as we get now? What about government employees, native Americans? Abortion? Eboli? Travelers needing health care? Mental health care? Prisons? State, County, Federal, City? Students? Will Medicare be gone? Pharmacutical? Limits in Care? Family care deductions? Foster care? Adoption? Orphans? Emergency? What will happen to the cost of a sanitary napkin, diaper for hospitals or is it a government tax rate?
Dear Friends:
Earthlings in the USA! How much will the health-care tax be? When will it start? will it be quarterly income? Does that mean that Businesses or sole proprietor or partnerships will pay different amounts than a Hamburger employee?
Earthlings what if they do not pay taxes? Earthlings in the USA does this mean all will have this not matter what nation on Earth they are from? Same Rate?
How about those that are unemployed, do not receive unemployment, it ran out, and no more extensions, workers comp, disabilities, injured veterans, those that are not retirement age, and cannot make the tax payments because of no income, no unemployment (appeal) or no extensions, penalties adding up?
Earthlings how about Mercy Mercy Religious hospitals will they have to do what Obama says no matter what their faith and will this tax, this tax, this pay for foreign nationals? County? State hospitals? Veterans Hospitals?
What and who decides which insurance companies will receive our federal health care tax dollars? We the people did not vote for this tax? What about the sovereignty nations citizens? Are their casinos going to be taxed? Build prisons will health tax evaders be imprisoned?
Free China and other health care in the USA! Earthlings in the USA they will come more and from farther. All the little islands, Arabs, Hebrew Holy Cow?
Will they allow private hospital rooms or wards? Will there be tiered medical privileges and care?
Unlimited? Outer space income? Our space station or their or other planets?
Oh goody, more ER's to close. Those so excited about Government run health care should take a look at the Vet Admin. 6 months to 1 year to get approval for services. Insurance premiums already on the rise, will really rise now and you Will have no choice. Talk about Obama and bait and switch. Why did Obama promise it was not a tax but in fact they argued successfully that it was a tax and thus the court agreed. Hence Obama admin said it will be monitored by the IRS, great, just great.
The health system is broken-in New York a 28 year old shopping for an individual health care policy can easily be charged 10K while for a young family premiums easily exceed 15K-small businesses and individuals cannot pay nor sustain continuing increases in premiums out to infinity; The ACA may not be perfect, but we can't sit on our hands and do nothing while premiums ratchet up endlessly. The ACA takes a shot at improving the system, will it work, I don't think anyone knows what will and will not work in the ACA-it will require coverage of pre exsting conditions, most right thinking people support this; it will mandate health coverage or a slight (very slight) phased in penalty/tax will be imposed; it will encourage more competition which hopefully will lower premiums by requiring younger, generally healthier people be in a deeper insurance pool; it will likely cut down on the practice of waiting to sign up for health insurance coverage until you actually get sick; it may cut down on having hospital emergency room being the "family physician" for too many challenged socio econmic groups which costs are a spread amongst all of us anyway through hugher insurance premiums; in short it is well worth a good faith try; standing still and putting one's head in the sand is not a strategy it is a demonstarted recipe for a decaying society
Well if the country can get the jobs picture turned around then this will be a great bill. If not then people will be paying the penalty instead of getting the insurance.
Republican counteroffer: Free health care for the wealthy!
Next ruling all guns are illegal and therefore will be confiscated by the Federal Government. Be prepared to turn in your weapons when "Big Brother" comes calling.
My family was all independent and Democratic leaning when I was growing up. Then one of them became rich and the others moved to the dumbest part of rural Southern Indiana that is 99.99 white and they are now bigoted conservative glen beck loving morons. But even my old man the other day said--"Maybe this healthcare thing isn't so bad.
Honestly, those of us who have been paying for insurance....Mine is almost $600.00 per month for one person, helps support those who do not have insurance. But will we get any refund on the astrominical amount we have been paying since the uninsured must now purchase insurance? Also, how in the hell do you think people who could not afford insurance will find extra money to purchase it now? This makes no sense unless you make everyone pay the same price.....I am just now caught up in the effects of our economic situation and I am having trouble paying all my bills. Obama what are you doing to our country? I would be glad for you to be in my shoes for a month or two. P.S. The private sector is not doing fine.
I received this from a friend and thought I'd pass it along, I do not know where it originated from so cannot give credit to the author, but would if I could:
Chief Justice John Roberts has done us a huge favor. He is now made Obama the recipient of the largest middle class tax increase in the history of the WORLD.
Obama promised no new taxes on the middle class if he is elected President (circa 2008). That is no longer true.
Now Justice Roberts has made Obama the OWNER of this INSANE TAX INCREASE.
MR. ROBERTS you are crafty. Obama doesn't even realize what happened yet. We need to remind America of this lie.
Romney has raised millions of dollars since this decision has been brought down by the Washington Supremes. If it is at all possible a money blast to Romney may send a clear message.
Romney sounded presidential. Acted presidential. He needs to be our next president. He will act to repeal this tax increase.
Patriots unite.
Let's be in touch with reality for a change and call things by their real name: only egocentric people can
oppose a health plan that aims to protect the low income class; only people moved by deep racist feel-
ings can deny health protection for the ones who get sick but can not afford it. By the way, most of the
opposition are the ones who have BIG money, the one made by the hard work of their employees who
are very grateful for the chance to work, but who are not that dumb to ignore the greed involved in the
employer/employ relation. And check this up: poor needy people are said, in a derogatory way, "to live on
welfare" while the ones who have it all describe their social benefits and tax exceptions as "entittlements".
Comon sense defines such entittlements as another way of getting welfare benefits; there is a difference
though, rich people DO NOT need help, they are already well served. Is any room for what is described as
compassion? After all, to help the needy while one has plenty, makes one look much BETTER instead. But
that proves one old Biblical statement: "Money is the root of all evil."
Spoken like a true Lib, must be racist, success is evil, Big Money etc etc.
Most of my very wealthy neighbors under 60 don't have health insurance, its a choice they made. You know choice a key Lib word always used.......
In my circle I have NEVER heard anyone not wanting to help those in need, the problem becomes when those that think the government can do it better and at less cost. What program has the government ever sank its hands into becomes a program where the never ending blank check is a concern.
Please ask some of the soilders returning from war how long they have to wait to get a appt or approval for a costly need.
Please figure out why those with the means come to the US for care when their own country has social medicine.
Please tell me why a young person, can pay a fine/tax of 500 dollars to not buy health care insurance and yet can still get medical coverage the same or if not better than those that will pay or have to pay.
Please tell me how the crazy cost of care to our elderly will be funded if not everyone has to actually pay into it.
No, those with lower income or the struggling middle class will soon find out, that in fact, TAX the rich no longer applies and in fact that same middle class will once again have taxes raised. This time the US will call it what we do in CA., fees.
i kinda want to see the obama guy take this third world mutt all the way down
I don't like the white one i want that black guy to win again
4 more years should about do it here