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Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Act

Chief Justice Roberts sides with liberal-leaning judges to tip scales for big win for President Obama

WASHINGTON -- The individual health insurance mandate is constitutional, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday, upholding the central provision of President Barack Obama's signature Affordable Care Act.

The 5-4 majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, upheld the mandate as a tax, although concluded it was not valid as an exercise of Congress' commerce clause power. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined in the majority.

"Simply put, Congress may tax and spend," Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. "This grant gives the federal government considerable influence even in areas where it cannot directly regulate."

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The full text of the decision is attached to this article.

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Governor Chris Christie on Thursday said he was disappointed in the ruling.

“I’ve been clear from the very beginning that I do not believe a one-size-fits-all health care program works for the entire country and that each governor should have the ability to make decisions about what works best for their state,'' Christie said in a statement. "Today’s Supreme Court decision is disappointing and I still believe this is the wrong approach for the people of New Jersey who should be able to make their own judgments about health care. Most importantly, the Supreme Court is confirming what we knew all along about this law – it is a tax on middle class Americans.”

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., praised the ruling.

"This is a victory for the people, and makes clear that help is on the way for 30 million Americans who need access to affordable health insurance,” Lautenberg said in a release.  “Middle class families are struggling to afford health insurance and Obamacare will throw them a lifeline."

What do you think about today's landmark ruling? Discuss in the comments.


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