Obamacare upheld

[DEATH ROW JOE]

The entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal government's power to terminate states' Medicaid funds is narrowly read. Chief Justice Roberts joins the left of the Court.


Our precedent demonstrates that Congress had the power to impose the exaction in Section 5000A under the taxing power, and that Section 5000A need not be read to do more than impose a tax. This is sufficient to sustain it. - Chief Justice Roberts


On the Medicaid issue
"Nothing in our opinion precludes Congress from offering funds under the ACA to expand the availability of health care, and requiring that states accepting such funds comply with the conditions on their use. What Congress is not free to do is to penalize States that choose not to participate in that new program by taking away their existing Medicaid funding."

[SmokeyRamone]

I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.

I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.

You will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime.

Barak Obama

so I guess now we're going to be paying taxes straight to private corporations now.

[DEATH ROW JOE]

I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.

I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.

You will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime.

The plan he was referring to was never enacted. He extended all of the Bush tax cuts in 2010 rather than merely extending them for people making less than 250K. In addition, there have been about 400 billion in tax cuts since Jan 2009. Tax rates are at a 60 year low.

so I guess now we're going to be paying taxes straight to private corporations now.

You guess wrong. The tax is paid to the IRS if you do not have health insurance.

[SmokeyRamone]

ah, even better, now the government is using the IRS as a form of punishment. "Do what we tell you to do with your post tax income or we're going to punish you with more taxes"

Christ, what other private companies is he going to force us to do business with if he gets reelected?

[DEATH ROW JOE]

ah, even better, now the government is using the IRS as a form of punishment. "Do what we tell you to do with your post tax income or we're going to punish you with more taxes"

Christ, what other private companies is he going to force us to do business with if he gets reelected?

LMFAO, there is no economic difference between a tax incentive and a tax punishment. The mortgage interest deduction can be viewed as punishing people who rent rather than buy a home. The mandate is the economic equivalent of raising taxes on everyone but giving people with health insurance a tax break. So using the IRS to punish is not something new under Obama.

[Winter]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what will they do to people who cant afford insurance and never get it? People who are jobless, and simply cannot find a job, really arent going to have the money to afford health insurance.

[David_Lee_Halen]

The supreme court did the right thing.

[RATTdrools]

The supreme court did the right thing.

EXACTLY!

It's Romney and the Repukes who are out of touch and don't know how the constitution works!

[Liquid Boom Boom]

RattRules,

Please expand on that statement...I would love to know examples of what you mean. Thanks,

LBB

[DEATH ROW JOE]

Please expand on that statement...I would love to know examples of what you mean. Thanks,

Republcans said the Arizona immigration law did not conflict with the Constitution and Obamacare did conflict with the Constitution. They were wrong on both counts. Clearly they do not understand the Constitution.

GOP Seeks to Block Obama's Arizona Lawsuit
http://youtu.be/xH8jWqvX4wc

Romney: Arizona Is Good Model For Illegal Immigration Policy
http://youtu.be/mPmwTvM861w

3/24/12 - Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell Delivers Weekly GOP Address On Obamacare
http://youtu.be/Tl20gUTQUrM

Beginning on Monday, the nation's highest court will hold three days of arguments to decide, among other things, whether the law's mandate that Americans must buy government-approved health insurance is consistent with the U.S. Constitution. As one of many public officials who filed a brief before the court opposing this bill, I believe it isn't.

[Stupid Goodbye Thread]

[Rorysfan]

The former Mrs. Sixx added her "wisdom" via Twitter on the subject.


Donna D'Errico ‏@DonnaDErrico
It passed because it's a tax..so from now on they can make us buy whatever they want as long as it's a tax. Wake me when this is over.

[David_Lee_Halen]

The former Mrs. Sixx added her "wisdom" via Twitter on the subject.


Donna D'Errico ‏@DonnaDErrico
It passed because it's a tax..so from now on they can make us buy whatever they want as long as it's a tax. Wake me when this is over.

The brainpower of the cast of Baywatch is astounding.

[GeddyCriss3]

I was at Subway today for lunch and two ladies in front of me were talking about how great it is that everyone now is going to have free health care...LMFAO.

[Winter]

I was at Subway today for lunch and two ladies in front of me were talking about how great it is that everyone now is going to have free health care...LMFAO.

Hence, your signature.

[HeavyMetalZombie666]

Scumbag Obama is getting away with his bullshit.

[Rorysfan]

I was at Subway today for lunch and two ladies in front of me were talking about how great it is that everyone now is going to have free health care...LMFAO.

Then why didn't you enlighten them?

[David_Lee_Halen]

I was at Subway today for lunch and two ladies in front of me were talking about how great it is that everyone now is going to have free health care...LMFAO.

Were they good looking? Sounds like you could've easily scored by telling them something stupid.

[Danzig in the Dark]

The Supreme Court UPHOLDS Health Reform -- What Does It Mean for You?
In a surprise decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010. You will hear a lot of commentary from legal and policy experts in the next few weeks about this decision, but this post is about what the Court action means for YOU personally.

The outcry from the right will be deafening, and there will be attempts by the House Republicans between now and November to take out sections of the law, although the Senate Democratic majority is not likely to approve any of those actions. Obviously, if the Republicans win the presidency and the Senate in November, the ACA may not survive to its full 2014 implementation date. Now is the time to acquaint yourself with what the health reform law really means to you -- while you still have it.

1. If you are employed and enjoy health insurance as part of your work benefit package: The Affordable Care Act does not currently have a large impact on large self-insured companies; however, as the law is fully implemented in 2014 and beyond, there is a chance that your employer may determine that employees can get cheaper coverage through a state exchange and over time some employers may drop employer-sponsored coverage. If you work for one of those companies, you may actually have more choice of plans through an exchange and depending on whether or not the employer subsidizes you or you are eligible for a federal subsidy, you may pay less than you do now. Until that time, you will see a few benefits of the ACA -- no lifetime limits on your benefits; restrictions on annual limits; preventive services without co-pays; and adult children allowed to stay on parents' plans until age 26.

2. If you are lucky enough to be on Medicare: The Affordable Care Act has brought seniors a number of significant benefits already. The doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage is being closed every year and will disappear by 2020. In 2011 alone, 3.6 million seniors saved $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs because of health reform. Another benefit for seniors is the preventive services that are available without co-pays and the 4% reduction in premiums for seniors enrolled in managed care Medicare plans (called Medicare Advantage) in 2012.

However, looming on the horizon if there is a Republican sweep in November are big changes to Medicare, including a potential rollback of the ACA benefits and a switch to a voucher system which would give you a fixed amount to buy a plan without any guarantee that the amount would be sufficient to cover what you currently have.

3. If you are self employed and have an individual insurance policy for yourself and your family: Try to keep your policy if you can continue to afford it. Don't let it lag because we do not know the outcome of the November elections, and if the Act is overturned, you will be on the streets again, trying to get coverage as an individual and potentially being turned down for pre-existing conditions.

4. If you are uninsured but are hoping to be able to get it through the Affordable Care Act and a State Exchange: The good news about the fact that the Court upheld the entire law is that you will still have the option to buy insurance through an Exchange in your state and if your state does not offer one, through a federal exchange. And you will get help affording that premium via a federal subsidy that will allow you to earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level before the subsidy phases out. For those who have a pre-existing condition, the law still guarantees that insurers must accept you starting in 2014.

Again, the election in November will determine whether or not the positive features of the ACA will survive.

5. If you are a small employer and were hoping to be able to help your employees get health insurance at a reasonable rate through the state exchanges: There will still be options for you and your employees. The state exchanges will be open to individuals and small business, offering a variety of plan options at a variety of prices, much like the Massachusetts exchange. Up to now, small businesses have found it very expensive to insure their employees, particularly if any of them have been sick.

If Republicans sweep the November elections, it won't matter how the Supreme Court has ruled. The entire Affordable Care Act will be repealed and the Republicans have no plan to replace it with a plan that could make health care more affordable. Don't forget that the Republican plan for health reform has only three or four main provisions -- protect doctors with malpractice reform; allow fly-by-night insurers to sell their "hospital gown" plans (looks good in the front but is bare in the back) across state lines; and make you, the consumer "more accountable" for your health care costs (translation: you pay more). And this is NOT a tax on the middle class! This is a tax on people who do not take personal responsibility for their health care. This is a tax on those who would shift their costs to the rest of us!


There are many benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Educate yourself and fight to keep them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-ber ... 26172.html

[Rorysfan]

I was at Subway today for lunch and two ladies in front of me were talking about how great it is that everyone now is going to have free health care...LMFAO.

Were they good looking? Sounds like you could've easily scored by telling them something stupid.

Probably cuz he didn't have anyone from Fixed News telling him what to think or say.

[David_Lee_Halen]

The Supreme Court UPHOLDS Health Reform -- What Does It Mean for You?
In a surprise decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010. You will hear a lot of commentary from legal and policy experts in the next few weeks about this decision, but this post is about what the Court action means for YOU personally.

The outcry from the right will be deafening, and there will be attempts by the House Republicans between now and November to take out sections of the law, although the Senate Democratic majority is not likely to approve any of those actions. Obviously, if the Republicans win the presidency and the Senate in November, the ACA may not survive to its full 2014 implementation date. Now is the time to acquaint yourself with what the health reform law really means to you -- while you still have it.

1. If you are employed and enjoy health insurance as part of your work benefit package: The Affordable Care Act does not currently have a large impact on large self-insured companies; however, as the law is fully implemented in 2014 and beyond, there is a chance that your employer may determine that employees can get cheaper coverage through a state exchange and over time some employers may drop employer-sponsored coverage. If you work for one of those companies, you may actually have more choice of plans through an exchange and depending on whether or not the employer subsidizes you or you are eligible for a federal subsidy, you may pay less than you do now. Until that time, you will see a few benefits of the ACA -- no lifetime limits on your benefits; restrictions on annual limits; preventive services without co-pays; and adult children allowed to stay on parents' plans until age 26.

2. If you are lucky enough to be on Medicare: The Affordable Care Act has brought seniors a number of significant benefits already. The doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage is being closed every year and will disappear by 2020. In 2011 alone, 3.6 million seniors saved $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs because of health reform. Another benefit for seniors is the preventive services that are available without co-pays and the 4% reduction in premiums for seniors enrolled in managed care Medicare plans (called Medicare Advantage) in 2012.

However, looming on the horizon if there is a Republican sweep in November are big changes to Medicare, including a potential rollback of the ACA benefits and a switch to a voucher system which would give you a fixed amount to buy a plan without any guarantee that the amount would be sufficient to cover what you currently have.

3. If you are self employed and have an individual insurance policy for yourself and your family: Try to keep your policy if you can continue to afford it. Don't let it lag because we do not know the outcome of the November elections, and if the Act is overturned, you will be on the streets again, trying to get coverage as an individual and potentially being turned down for pre-existing conditions.

4. If you are uninsured but are hoping to be able to get it through the Affordable Care Act and a State Exchange: The good news about the fact that the Court upheld the entire law is that you will still have the option to buy insurance through an Exchange in your state and if your state does not offer one, through a federal exchange. And you will get help affording that premium via a federal subsidy that will allow you to earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level before the subsidy phases out. For those who have a pre-existing condition, the law still guarantees that insurers must accept you starting in 2014.

Again, the election in November will determine whether or not the positive features of the ACA will survive.

5. If you are a small employer and were hoping to be able to help your employees get health insurance at a reasonable rate through the state exchanges: There will still be options for you and your employees. The state exchanges will be open to individuals and small business, offering a variety of plan options at a variety of prices, much like the Massachusetts exchange. Up to now, small businesses have found it very expensive to insure their employees, particularly if any of them have been sick.

If Republicans sweep the November elections, it won't matter how the Supreme Court has ruled. The entire Affordable Care Act will be repealed and the Republicans have no plan to replace it with a plan that could make health care more affordable. Don't forget that the Republican plan for health reform has only three or four main provisions -- protect doctors with malpractice reform; allow fly-by-night insurers to sell their "hospital gown" plans (looks good in the front but is bare in the back) across state lines; and make you, the consumer "more accountable" for your health care costs (translation: you pay more). And this is NOT a tax on the middle class! This is a tax on people who do not take personal responsibility for their health care. This is a tax on those who would shift their costs to the rest of us!


There are many benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Educate yourself and fight to keep them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-ber ... 26172.html

Good to know.

[Crazy Levi]

Why do Republicans hate the Constitution so much?

Is it because they simply do not understand it? Or is it because, deep down inside, they HATE AMERICA?

Either way, they are wrong, wrong WRONG!

[The 13th Ghost]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what will they do to people who cant afford insurance and never get it? People who are jobless, and simply cannot find a job, really arent going to have the money to afford health insurance.

[Danzig in the Dark]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what will they do to people who cant afford insurance and never get it? People who are jobless, and simply cannot find a job, really arent going to have the money to afford health insurance.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/healthcar ... thplan.htm
http://www.resumark.com/blog/andrew/une ... -may-help/

[Danzig in the Dark]

[roxxxtar]

[GeddyCriss3]

I was at Subway today for lunch and two ladies in front of me were talking about how great it is that everyone now is going to have free health care...LMFAO.

Were they good looking? Sounds like you could've easily scored by telling them something stupid.

Probably cuz he didn't have anyone from Fixed News telling him what to think or say.

November......

[DEATH ROW JOE]

FEDERAL HEALTHCARE REFORM:PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT INDIVIDUAL MANDATE & SUBSIDY

Enforcement: The penalty will be paid as a federal tax liability on income tax returns and is enforced by the Treasury. Individuals that fail to pay the penalty will not be subject to criminal penalties, liens or levies.

Individual Mandate Fact Sheet FINAL (pdf file)
http://www.bcbsri.com/BCBSRIWeb/pdf/Ind ... _Sheet.pdf

[bane]

Individuals that fail to pay the penalty will not be subject to criminal penalties, liens or levies.

Interesting. With no penalty, how do they plan to enforce it?

[NeverSurrender]

So, is this going to make health insurance more affordable?

This question goes out to everybody except rattrules and Death Row Joe.