While Roberts’ decision was an incoherent mess, constitutionally, it was probably good from a political standpoint for the Republicans, including Mitt Romney.
2 thoughts on “Obama’s Three-Front War”
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While Roberts’ decision was an incoherent mess, constitutionally, it was probably good from a political standpoint for the Republicans, including Mitt Romney.
Comments are closed.
Incoherent mess?
Candidate Romney, to some snickering from other Republicans given Romney’s role in the Massachusetts health care reform, promised during more than one primary debate “The day I take office, I will issue a waiver (on the Affordable Health Care Act) to all 50 states!”
Guess what, President Romney can’t promise that anymore because Chief Justice Roberts already did just that. The 50 states now have waivers — the can opt in or opt out of the Medicaid expansion.
The Individual Mandate was upheld on taxing power grounds (a “reasonable” interpretation is that the IRS collects an amount of money from you that is less than the cost of health insurance, and if you demonstrate that you have a “qualified” health insurance, you get excused from paying the tax — kinda, sorta like the tax credit for buying a hybrid-electric car). The mandate on the 50 states, it seems, has been overturned as a “states rights” ruling.
Owing to the loss of the 50 States Mandate, Health Care Reform is a dead law, walking, no?
No, not if Obama is re-elected. There is much more to the law than the issues before the court.