POLL: Where Do You Stand on the Affordable Care Act Decision?

With the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," candidates for the new Massachusetts Third Congressional District had distinctly different views on the decision.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) praised the vote in a released statement on her website.

"Up until this moment, I was still hearing from families who were caring for a loved one and were concerned about what today’s outcome would mean for them," said Tsongas. "Today they can breathe a sigh of relief.  The Court’s ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act is a victory for these families and the American people, and removes any doubt about the survival of these historic reforms and protections included in that bill."

Meanwhile, 2010 GOP nominee Jon Golnik (R-Carlisle) took the Supreme Court's views that the law was acceptable through the government's ability to tax under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution as an opportunity to claim that Tsongas seeks to raise taxes on middle class citizens.

“Let’s first remember that the job of the Court is to decide what is a constitutional law, not what is a good or sound one,” said Golnik in a statement shortly following the announcement.  “While I am disappointed in the outcome of the ruling, I am glad the Supreme Court affirmed what we all knew and have been saying—this health care law is a tax on every American."

Golnik's announcement went on to approve of the ruling's protection of states' rights while also stating his views that allowing individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines along with tort reform and increased emphasis on small employer insurance pooling as better ways to decrease healthcare costs.

UPDATE: Golnik's primary opponent, Westford resident Tom Weaver, saw the decision as a crucial moment that makes November's election one that will echo for years to come.

"We have less than 135 days to fix this or we will forever change this country," said Weaver. "If we do not unite and replace the Executive Branch with individuals that recognize the greatness of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, we will be forfeiting liberty and freedom for all the generations to come."

Weaver also had strong words for the U.S. Supreme Court.

“The healthcare law was upheld because the Supreme Court says that the government can tax us, anytime and anywhere.  The healthcare law was upheld because the Supreme Court used a 'living and breathing' Constitution to interpret the law,” he said. “If we continue on this path, Justice Ginsburg will have her ideal 1,000 page South African constitution, versus that simple four page document that demands that government protect our rights of freedom."