Thursday, June 17, 2021

Progressive Reaction to the United States Supreme Court Decision on the Affordable Care Act

Reaction among progressive circles to the seven to two United States Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act has been universally jubilant in Arizona and across the country.

President Joe Biden issued a statement that read:

"The Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land.

Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision is a major victory for all Americans benefitting from this groundbreaking and life-changing law. It is a victory for more than 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and millions more who were in immediate danger of losing their health care in the midst of a once-in-a-century pandemic.

It is a victory for every American who, prior to the Affordable Care Act, stayed up at night staring at the ceiling, wondering whether they would lose everything if they or a loved one got sick. Because of this law, they don’t have to worry about being denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition like diabetes or watching their coverage being capped during a cancer treatment. Because of the law, they are able to get free preventive screenings that can save their lives and improve their health. Today’s victory is also for all the young people who can stay on their parents’ insurance plan until they turn 26 years old, and for the millions of low-income families and people with disabilities receiving health care because their states expanded Medicaid under this law.

After more than a decade of attacks on the Affordable Care Act through the Congress and the courts, today’s decision – the third major challenge to the law that the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected – it is time move forward and keep building on this landmark law.

That is what we are doing thanks to the American Rescue Plan, which has lowered health care costs and expanded coverage for millions of Americans through the Affordable Care Act. More than 1.2 million Americans signed up for coverage under the law through a special enrollment period I established during this pandemic, which people can still sign up for through August 15th. And I look forward to working with the Congress to build on this law so that the American people will continue to have access to quality and affordable health care.

Today’s decision affirms that the Affordable Care Act is stronger than ever, delivers for the American people, and gets us closer to fulfilling our moral obligation to ensure that, here in America, health care is a right and not a privilege."

The President also tweeted:

"With millions of people relying on the Affordable Care Act for coverage, it remains, as ever, a BFD. And it's here to stay."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in remarks to reporters that:

"We are of course happy with the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act...Once again the Supreme Court upheld the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and the transformational protections that it provides every American no matter where they get their coverage...Thanks to them (grassroots activists) and the Democrats in Congress, the Affordable Care Act endures as a pillar of American health and economic security alongside Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security...We will never forget how Republican leaders embraced this monstrous way to rip away America's health care in the middle of a deadly pandemic... Democrats will continue our work to build on this transformational to make what is in this package (The American Rescue Plan) permanent in terms of affordability access and quality health care for all Americans..."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was jubilant on the Senate floor, blasting perennial Republican opposition to the Affordable Care Act and said:

"Once again today, the United States Supreme Court in a seven to two ruling upheld the Affordable Care Act in the face of another legal challenge. So let me say definitively, the Affordable Care Act has won. The Supreme Court has just ruled. The ACA is here to stay."

 

Democratic National Committee Chairperson Jamie Harrison stated:

“The Affordable Care Act is here to stay. Despite the best efforts of Republicans for the better part of the last decade to roll back, weaken and eliminate this historic law, the Supreme Court once again cemented affordable health care coverage for tens of millions of Americans and the over 133 million Americans living with preexisting conditions. “While today is a significant victory for the American people, we know that the fight is not over. The ACA is only the start. Thanks to President Biden and the American Rescue Plan, we’ve already seen historic progress this year with more Americans now covered under the ACA than ever before. Democrats believe that access to affordable health care is a right, not a privilege, and we will not stop fighting to expand access and lower costs for even more American families.”

Arizona Congressional House District Three Representative Raul Grijalva issued a press release that read:

“After over a decade of partisan attacks and Republican efforts to rip healthcare away from millions of vulnerable Americans, the Supreme Court has once again reaffirmed that the Affordable Care Act remains law. It’s unconscionable that this lawsuit even proceeded to the Supreme Court while Americans all over the country battled a deadly pandemic and needed access to quality, affordable healthcare now more than ever. It’s time for Republicans to stop their attacks on those with preexisting conditions and finally recognize the legality of the ACA. I’ll keep working in Congress to strengthen the law and move towards universal coverage so that every person in our country has access to the healthcare they deserve.”

Arizona Congressional House District One Representative Tom O'Halleran also released a statement, offering:

“Hundreds of thousands of Arizonans rely on the Affordable Care Act for their health care, including countless First District families with pre-existing conditions. And, for so many, the ACA was the first time these pre-existing conditions did not prevent them from accessing quality health insurance that didn’t break the bank. I am so pleased to see today’s ruling that upholds these protections.

“This spring, I voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, which reduces the cost of health care coverage for 9 million consumers. Our legislation now ensures that families eligible for premium tax credits have at least a couple plans to choose from that won’t cost more than 8.5% of their household income. This new change will benefit many living in rural areas hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Moving forward, we cannot play politics with the health care of millions of Americans; I’ve worked to protect the ACA since I came to Congress in 2017, and I will always fight to preserve it. I am committed to working to strengthen our health care systems, lower the costs of prescription drugs, and ensure that families can access the quality, affordable care they need.”

Arizona Democratic Party Chairperson Raquel Teran wrote:

“This decisive Supreme Court ruling is a tremendous victory for the hundreds of thousands of Arizonans whose right to quality, affordable health care was on the line due to the Republican’s reckless and dangerous agenda. For over a decade, while Republicans have worked to dismantle this legislation, Democrats have fought to lower costs and improve coverage and that’s what our elected Democrats will continue to do after this ruling.

"But while Democrats will continue to fight for Arizonans’ health care, Republicans, especially those in the U.S. Senate race, must tell Arizonans why they are continuing to support their party’s decade-long effort to rip health care away from Arizonans.”

The Children's Action Alliance released a statement that read:

"This morning the Supreme Court of the United States determined that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is here to stay. The 7-2 ruling by the court is a huge victory for all Americans, including the 31 million people who currently have health insurance through either the ACA Marketplace or Medicaid Expansion. If the Court ruled the other way, these individuals would have been in immediate danger of losing their health care during a deadly pandemic.

Legal challengers to the landmark health care law – including Arizona’s Attorney General Mark Brnovich – argued that because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 set the tax penalty for not having health insurance at $0, the entirety of the ACA was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court largely saw through this argument, with only Justices Alito and Gorsuch dissenting.

It’s unfortunate that this meritless case made it to the highest court in the U.S., and we hope that this ruling will be enough to end the frivolous attacks on this pivotal law."

Delina DiSanto, a Democratic House Congressional Candidate for Arizona District Four, wrote:

"The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been law since 2010. It was the most prominent piece of legislation that passed to protect American's health since Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. ACA is so entwined into our healthcare system that healthcare providers, hospital systems, commercial health insurance companies, and those tied to the healthcare networks would throw them into unpredictability and disorganization if it was found to be unconstitutional. I am glad that the Supreme Court dismissed the challenge to the ACA (7-2) and will leave the law in its entirety and have it continue to cover millions of Americans."

"I now hope we can work on a Medicare plan for those who want it and need it. To be more affordable, accessible, accepted by most healthcare providers, and to be administered by Medicare, not commercial healthcare insurance companies who have insane CEO salaries, shareholders wanting their monthly dividends, and who drop you when you have a life-threatening event. I know this will take time, guidance, education, but our nation is ready for a healthcare-for-all affordable system, and that is Medicare. I will lead on this issue when I'm elected to Congress."

Judy Stahl, the other Arizona Democratic House Candidate for District Four offered:

"The Supreme court upheld the ACA for the third time. Hopefully, the third time's a charm. This is a decision to celebrate and is a boon for those who rely on the Affordable Care Act to keep themselves and their families healthy and safe. Now we need to take decisive action to expand coverage to everyone and work to make healthcare in our country truly affordable."

Matt Grodsky, the Vice President and Director of Public Affairs for Media State Matters stated:

"We can all breathe a sigh of relief with this ruling but we know that the GOP will continue to attack affordable, accessible healthcare. This will remain a key issue in the 2022 midterms, which is all the more reason Democrats need to advance their legislative agenda so they can show their voters that they kept their promises on healthcare."

Former President Barack Obama relayed:

"This ruling reaffirms what we have long known to be true: the Affordable Care Act is here to stay. The principle of universal coverage has been established, and 31 million people now have access to care through the law we passed — with millions more who can no longer be denied coverage or charged more because of a preexisting condition.

"Now we need to build on the Affordable Care Act and continue to strengthen and expand it. That's what President Biden has done through the American Rescue Plan, giving more families the peace of mind they deserve. And because he extended the special enrollment period until August 15th, anyone who needs coverage can go to healthcare.gov and sign up."

It appears that the Affordable Care Act/ Obamacare is as Chuck Schumer said "here to stay."

Now comes the task of improving it and building on its foundations to provide better and affordable health care options for the American People.

 

 

 

 

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