In its upcoming term, the United States Supreme Court will hear a case reviewing the legality of Obamacare a decision that could overturn millions of dollars worth of subsidies for middle and lower income families.
Opponents to the health care law say that the law only provides for government subsidies to individuals and families in states where statewide insurances exchanges have been set up. The IRS has determined that health insurance tax credits are available to all citizens of the 50 states, regardless of state participation.
After a federal court sided with the decision of the IRS, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in their upcoming term that begins next spring. The plaintiffs, however, argue that a quicker timeframe is needed.
“The need for a quick and final resolution of this question is undeniable,” said Sam Kazman, general counsel of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the group paying for the challenges to the health care law, in an AP report. “This `subsidies-for-everyone’ rule affects nearly every person across the country, health insurance policyholders, workers and employers, taxpayers, and state and local governments.”
The White House dismissed the possibility of Obamacare to be scrapped by this round of the Supreme Court, and portrayed the lawsuit as another example of unproductive logjamming that has assailed the law ever since its passage.
“This lawsuit reflects just another partisan attempt to undermine the Affordable Care Act and to strip millions of American families of tax credits that Congress intended for them to have,” said Josh Earnest, White House Press Secretary.
However, the Obama Administration will certainly continue to face opposition to his landmark bill through legislation and lawsuits over his next two years in office.
“The American people have made it clear: they’re not for Obamacare. Ask all those Democrats who lost their elections Tuesday night. A lot of them voted for Obamacare,” said Speaker of the House John Boehner.
With Republican control of the House of Representatives and Senate, Congress now has a better chance of passing a repeal to the Affordable Care Act. If such legislation is passed the President can still veto it, and as of now there are not enough votes for a Congressional override.
