California's Sen. Boxer Applauds Court's Health Care Ruling

By George Severson

CREATED Jun. 28, 2012

  • Print

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued the following statement today on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act:

 

“The Supreme Court’s ruling is a victory for America’s families, who deserve affordable health care.  

 

“The decision is great news for the millions of Californians who have already seen the benefits of this law – including the six million who now have access to free preventive health services, 355,000 young adults who now have coverage on their parents’ health plans and 320,000 seniors who have received help in paying for their prescription drugs.

 

“Now Americans will have the certainty of knowing they won’t be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition. Women won’t be charged a higher premium because of their gender.  And families struggling with serious illnesses will not face lifetime limits on coverage.

 

“We will continue to fight Republican efforts to repeal these important health benefits while we work to make sure every American has access to quality, affordable health care.” 

 

Chief Justice John Roberts has joined with the court's four liberal justices in upholding the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Even though the justices rejected two of the administration's arguments in support of the individual mandate, it upheld it as a tax. 

 
The four dissenting justices said the law "exceeds federal power" in mandating the purchase of health insurance and in the Medicaid expansion.

This morning's ruling 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.

 
The court found problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid, but says it could proceed under certain conditions.