| Updated: 6/28/2012 5:15 pm |
Published: 6/28/2012 9:13 am
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WASHINGTON (AP) - WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the Supreme Court's decision to uphold his health care overhaul is a "victory for people all over the country" and will make their lives more secure.
Obama says the decision upholds the fundamental principle that in America - the wealthiest nation on earth - no one should fall into financial ruin because of an illness.
The president says the decision means that people with pre-existing medical conditions will not be discriminated against and people will be able to afford quality health care.
The nation's highest court on Thursday upheld the individual insurance requirement at the center of the president's overhaul.
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt released the following statement about the Supreme Court's decision:
“We’re disappointed the Court upheld the individual mandate, and find it disturbing that they did not place a limit on the power of the federal government to control the lives of Americans. But, the battle isn’t over. It is now up to the political process to repeal the act and replace it with measures that address the health care crisis within the confines of the Constitution. We must continue to oppose this act and multiple overreaching regulations proposed by the Obama Administration that cross the line of federal power,” Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said.
Pruitt attended today’s court session at the U.S. Supreme Court. He was in Washington D.C. Thursday to testify before a Congressional subcommittee.
Oklahoma filed a lawsuit against the health care act in January 2011 and filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case. Virginia and Florida also filed lawsuits, challenging the act. Twenty-five other states joined the Florida lawsuit.
Congressman John Sullivan released this statement in reaction to the decision:
“I strongly disagree with the courts decision to uphold the individual mandate – I fear this ruling will forever change the relationship between the federal government and the people in this country."
“Nowhere in the U.S. constitution is Congress given the power to force Americans to purchase a good or a service or to enter into a contract. By signing Obamacare into law, the President and Democrat leaders told the American people they don’t have a right to choose what health insurance plan best meets their needs – I strongly disagree. Regardless of the Supreme Courts ruling, Obamacare is still a bad law and must be repealed – it is hurting our economy, spending trillions of dollars we don’t have to spend, killing American jobs and putting the federal government between doctors and their patients. I will continue fighting to repeal the law in Congress, however I am confident the American people will vote to repeal this law at the ballot box in November by making Barack Obama a one term President."
Congressman Frank Lucas released this statement:
“I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the president’s health care law,” said Lucas. “Americans have spoken loudly in opposition to this unworkable law, and it is discouraging the court has found it constitutional. Families should have the freedom to make their own health care decisions, and ObamaCare takes that freedom away, while in-turn costing our nation trillions of dollars without addressing our health care problems.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to fully repeal the law and enact reforms to our nation’s health care system that protect Americans’ access to health care. We need to refocus our efforts to make efficient and cost effective changes to the system, while also ensuring health care treatments are never rationed by government officials.”
Senator Jim Inhofe released this statement:
“I am disappointed that the court has upheld the individual mandate as a tax,” said Inhofe. “By ruling it a tax, I suspect that this issue will come up again in 2015 when that portion of the law goes into effect. In the meantime, even though President Obama said in 2009 that this is ‘absolutely not a tax increase,’ it turns out that Obama and the Democrats have levied an enormous tax increase on the middle and lower classes. The individual mandate will cost Americans the greater of a per-person flat fee or percentage of the household’s income. The flat fee is up to $695, and the income percentage is up to 2.5 percent. That is just not workable for most families."
“Aspects of the measure have infringed upon religious rights, cost our economy jobs, and will add to our skyrocketing federal debt. Despite promising to bring health care costs down, the Congressional Budget Office projects that costs will continue to rise and more people will become dependent upon the federal government for their health care coverage. This law increases premiums for families by $2,100 per year, and will put one in six hospitals in the red because of cuts to Medicare, jeopardizing access to treatment. In addition to the $52 billion in tax penalties on employers, this law will mean 800,000 fewer jobs at a time when unemployment has been at 8 percent or higher for 40 straight months.”
Inhofe continued, “In short, Obamacare costs too much in the form of lost rights, lost jobs, higher taxes, and increased debt. I will join with my colleagues to repeal this law and pursue sensible healthcare reform.”
Governor Mary Fallin released this statement about the decision:
“Oklahomans have voiced their opposition to the federal health care bill from the very beginning, having approved a constitutional amendment to block the implementation of this bill in our state. We believe that, rather than Big Government bureaucracy and one-size-fits-all solutions, the free-market principles of choice and competition are the best tools at our disposal to increase access to health care and reduce costs.
“I’m extremely disappointed and frustrated by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal health care law. President Obama’s health care policies will limit patients’ health care choices, reduce the quality of health care in the United States, and will cost the state of Oklahoma more than a half billion dollars in the process.
“Today’s decision highlights the importance of electing leaders who will work to repeal the federal health care law and replace it with meaningful reform focused on commonsense, market based changes.”
The Oklahoma State Chamber released the following statement:
“We are extremely disappointed in this decision. This is exactly what we feared when we formed the Oklahomans for Free Market Health Solutions coalition last year to help support an Oklahoma-based solution to the federal exchange mandate in the ACA. We now face a situation where a health insurance exchange crafted by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. will now be forced upon Oklahomans. We cannot let this happen and must take swift action to create a private sector driven health insurance marketplace in order to avoid a federally mandated system,” said Morgan.
“The ramifications of this decision are not yet completely known, but we believe this change will erode the quality of care Oklahomans have come to expect and ultimately increase costs for all Americans.”
Tulsa Metro Chamber President Mike Neal also commented:
"The Tulsa Metro Chamber has worked with policy makers and our regional partners to ensure our state has the flexibility to provide Oklahoma solutions to Oklahoma's health care challenges. Oklahoma has been on the cutting edge of addressing these challenges through hallmark programs like Insure Oklahoma, among others. We hope this decision provides that flexibility, and will allow state leaders to continue working for the best outcome for Oklahoma businesses and employees.
The Tulsa Metro Chamber will continue to work with state policy makers and Oklahoma's Congressional delegation to advance a world-leading health care system that is of high quality, affordable, and provides easy access for businesses and their employees."
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