Just pause for a minute and think what could possibly happen if a Kenyan court made a ruling saying that Uhuru’s recently launched ‘Universal Health Coverage’ programme was unconstitutional. Doesn’t make any sense right?
Well, a Texas judge has today made a ruling saying that the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare is unconstitutional. The move by the judge which comes amid a six-week open enrolment period for the program could suddenly disrupt the health insurance status of millions of Americans.
“Obamacare has been struck down by a highly respected judge. The judge’s decision vindicates President Trump’s position that Obamacare is unconstitutional. Once again, the President calls on Congress to replace Obamacare and act to protect people with pre-existing conditions and provide Americans with quality affordable healthcare. We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court. Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
Texas, along with 19 states, had argued to U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor that they had been hurt by a jump in the amount of people utilizing state-backed insurance. The States further claimed that when Congress cut the tax penalty from the program in 2017, it essentially undercut the Supreme Court’s reasoning for finding former President Barack Obama’s signature legislation constitutional in 2012.
“The remainder of the ACA is non-severable from the individual mandate, meaning that the Act must be invalidated in whole,” a conservative Republican said.
California and other states ruled against by the judge will likely challenge the decision by appealing in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
“Today’s ruling is an assault on 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, on the 20 million Americans who rely on the A.C.A.’s consumer protections for health care, on America’s faithful progress toward affordable health care for all Americans,” Xavier Becerra, California’s attorney general, said in a statement.
However, recent events have shown that Obamacare has in the past survived more than 70 unsuccessful repeal attempts and withstood scrutiny in the Supreme Court.
Democratic leaders have since reacted harshly to the decision.
The ruling seems to be based on faulty legal reasoning and hopefully it will be overturned. Americans who care about working families must do all they can to prevent this district court ruling from becoming law.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 15, 2018
“The ruling seems to be based on faulty legal reasoning and hopefully it will be overturned. Americans who care about working families must do all they can to prevent this district court ruling from becoming law,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted.
When House Democrats take the gavel, the House of Representatives will move swiftly to formally intervene in the appeals process to uphold the life-saving protections for people with pre-existing conditions and reject Republicans’ effort to destroy the Affordable Care Act.
Do you think Obamacare will be revoked?