by Ricky Leroux June 26, 2015 12:20 AM
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the nationwide tax subsidies underpinning President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, but most of Georgia’s federal lawmakers denounced the decision and pledged to keep fighting against the law.
The justices said in a 6-3 ruling that the subsidies that 8.7 million people currently receive to make insurance affordable do not depend on where they live, as opponents contended.
Obama greeted news of the decision by declaring the health care law “is here to stay.” He said the law is no longer about politics, but the benefits millions of people are receiving.
Nationally, 10.2 million people have signed up for health insurance under the Obama health care overhaul. That includes the 8.7 million people who are receiving an average subsidy of $272 a month to help pay their insurance premiums.
Of those receiving subsidies, 6.4 million were at risk of losing that aid because they live in states that did not set up their own health insurance exchanges.
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio said Republicans will “continue our efforts to repeal the law and replace it with patient-centered solutions that meet the needs of seniors, small business owners, and middle-class families.”
Several Georgia lawmakers echoed Boehner’s comments. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia, has voted to defund or repeal the Affordable Care Act more than 60 times since initially voting against the law in 2009.
Isakson said Thursday the Supreme Court’s decision will not stop him from continuing to try to get rid of the law.
“Today the Supreme Court failed to recognize how terribly flawed President Obama’s health care law is for millions of Georgians suffering under the law’s health insurance premium spikes and intrusive mandates,” Isakson said in a statement. “Despite this action by the Supreme Court I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to repeal and replace Obamacare.”
Sen. David Perdue, R-Georgia, said the Supreme Court’s ruling doesn’t change the fact that the law “is a disaster” and should be repealed.
“Right now, many Georgians are seeing their premiums skyrocket by double-digits, their hours cut back because of the employer mandate, and less access to the doctors of their choice because of the empty promises made by President Obama,” Perdue said. “These aren’t theoretical problems discussed in a courtroom. They are real-world economic problems caused by Obamacare. I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a patient-centered alternative.”
Rep. Tom Price, R-Roswell, said the ruling “endorsed the status quo” and should not dissuade lawmakers from pursuing a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Price also offered his health care bill, a version of which he has filed in each of the last four Congresses, as an alternative to the Affordable Care Act.
“A better way to address the challenges in our health care system is to put patients and their doctors in charge of health care decisions,” Price said in a statement. “HR 2300, the Empowering Patients First Act, is legislation that does just that. It makes coverage more affordable, expands access to health care choices so folks can find and purchase the coverage they want for themselves, not what Washington says they must buy. …While disappointed in the Court’s decision, I believe that we must continue our efforts to rid the country of Obamacare and start over with positive solutions that empower the American people, not Washington, D.C.”
Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, called the ACA a “system of broken promises” and “the only prescription” to fix it is a full repeal of the law.
“With the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold Obamacare’s health care subsidies, it is now more important than ever to push for a full repeal of the law,” Loudermilk said. “In this disappointing 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court reinforced the dangerous idea that government knows what’s best for American families and our personal health care decisions.”
Loudermilk said the law has increased health care costs and put Americans’ personal data at risk, an issue he said he plans to investigate.
“I intend to diligently pursue this matter and ensure the illegal collection of data by our government is stopped, and the previously collected data is permanently removed. Our citizens deserve better than this, and I am committed to ensuring that America is once again a nation that is free, safe and full of opportunity,” Loudermilk said.
On the other side of the aisle, Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta, praised the Supreme Court decision. Scott said the tax credits at issue in the Supreme Court case have helped 37,000 Georgians in his district, which includes south Cobb, get health insurance.
“The Affordable Care Act is working,” Scott said. “As a member of Congress, I will continue to focus on payment reforms and pilot projects that look at how we can improve our health care system to meet 21st century needs. I will also continue to work to protect our doctors from frivolous lawsuits and focus on real medical malpractice reform. … I will continue to advocate for public and private partnerships that focus on improving patient quality and outcomes. I will not however, vote for any piece of legislation that will repeal the Affordable Care Act.”
Unlike his Republican counterparts, Scott said he intends to strengthen the ACA.
“We have come too far in the way we look at and how we pay for health care,” Scott said. “We cannot go back. I am proud that our nation’s highest court has confirmed that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. Please rest assured, I will continue to work to strengthen the law to ensure that all Georgians have access to quality affordable health care.
