POLL: "Obamacare" Constitutional; Weigh In!

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled in favor of the controversial Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," which is intended to set up a universal health care system in the United States.

Justices who voted for the act are Chief Justice John Roberts, who was the deciding vote, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Elena Kagan and Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Dissenters were Justices Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Justice Kennedy, in his opinion, said the entire law was invalid.

The upholding of the individual mandate is rooted in Congress' ability to spend and tax; the mandate, which penalizes people for not buying health insurance, was seen by the majority as a tax that Congress could constitutionally enact.

The Court did negate Congress' power to compel states to opt-in to the national program, which gives many Republicans hope that the ruling may have no teeth.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said, “What’s important to remember is that what the Court rules on is whether something is constitutional or not, not whether it’s a good idea. And while the Court has said that the law is constitutional, it remains a bad idea for our economy, and I hope that in the fall we will have a majority here that will not just repeal this law, but replace it with real solutions that will insure more people and cost a lot less money," in reaction to the decision.

Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-GA), House Republican Policy Committee Chairman and Northeast Cobb's representative in Washington, issued a statement which described the ruling as setting a dangerous precedent, saying, "President Obama’s health care law trumps personal health care choices in exchange for a more powerful Washington.  It will force American citizens to endure diminished quality of care, increased insurance costs, health care rationing and excessive taxation brought on by an overzealous Washington bureaucracy."

Price, an orthopedic surgeon, has introduced House Resolution 3400, the "Empowering Patients First Act," an alternative to the Affordable Healthcare act.

 “Where ObamaCare believes in government, the Empowering Patients First Act believes in patients and their doctors.  It ensures that individuals maintain control of their health care decisions.  Patient-centered, positive solutions are at the core of moving our nation in the right direction," Price said in another statement.

Stay with Northeast Cobb Patch for updates on the ruling and how this ruling affects you.