Marathon Pundit: Bunch of ObamaCare ruling statements denouncing the decision

McConnell

A whole bunch of Republican lawmakers--and pro-business organizations--have issued statements about the US Supreme Court ruling upholding ObamaCare.

First from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:

Two and a half years ago, a Democrat president teamed up with a Democrat-led Congress to force a piece of legislation on the American people that they never asked for, and that has turned out to be just as disastrous as many of us predicted.

Amid economic recession, a spiraling federal debt, and accelerating increases in government health spending, they proposed a bill that has made these problems worse.

Americans were promised lower health care costs. They're going up.

Americans were promised lower premiums. They're going up.

Most Americans were promised their taxes wouldn't change. They're going up.

Seniors were promised Medicare would be protected. It was raided to pay for a new entitlement instead.

Americans were promised it would create jobs. The CBO predicts it will lead to nearly 1 million fewer jobs.

Americans were promised they could keep their plan if they liked it, yet millions have learned they can't.

And the President of the United States himself promised up and down that this bill was not a tax.

This was one of the Democrats' top selling points — because they knew it would have never passed if they said it was. The Supreme Court has spoken. This law is a tax.

This bill was sold to the American people on a deception. But it's not just that the promises about this law weren't kept. It’s that it’s made the problems it was meant to solve even worse.

The supposed cure has proved to be worse than the disease.

So it's not just that the promises about this law weren’t kept. It’s that it has made the problems it was meant to solve even worse.

The supposed cure has proved to be worse than the disease.

So the pundits will talk a lot today about what they think today's ruling means and what it doesn't mean. But I can assure you this: Republicans won't let up whatsoever in our determination to repeal this terrible law and replace it with the kind of reforms that will truly address the problems it was meant to solve.

We pass plenty of terrible laws around here that the court finds constitutional. Constitutionality was never an argument to keep this law in place, and it’s certainly not one you'll hear from Republicans in Congress.

There's only one way to truly 'fix' Obamacare, and that's a full repeal that clears the way for common-sense, step-by-step reforms that protect Americans’ access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost. And that’s precisely what Republicans are committed to doing.

The American people weren’t waiting on the Supreme Court to tell them whether they supported this law. That question was settled two and a half years ago. The more the American people have learned about this law, the less they’ve liked it.

So now that the court has ruled, it's time to move beyond the constitutional debate and focus on the primary reason this law should be fully repealed and replaced: because of the colossal damage it has already done to the health care system, to the economy, and to the job market.

The Democrat health care law has made things worse; Americans want it repealed; and that's precisely what we intend to do. Americans want us to start over. And today's decision does nothing to change that.

The court's ruling doesn’t mark the end of a debate. It marks a fresh start on the road to repeal. That's been our goal from the start. That's our goal now. And we plan to achieve it.

The President has done nothing to address the problems of cost, care, and access. We will.Here is a video of McConnell's Senate floor speech.

From the office of Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL):

"While this ruling speaks to the constitutionality of the ACA, the real question is whether the 2010 law makes for good public policy," said Congressman Dold. "The American people missed a golden opportunity with health care reform when Congress rushed it through on a partisan basis. I believe that properly confronting the big issues and challenges in this country requires input from both sides and bipartisan support. There are positive provisions in the ACA that should remain as law, but there is more we can do to increase quality and access to care, while reining in skyrocketing costs to the health care system. As health care reform continues to take shape, I am committed to working in a bipartisan way to find positive solutions to the rising costs of health care."

"The ACA has dramatically changed the way physicians in America provide health care in a manner which decreases access and quality of care, increases cost, and killed medical innovation," said Dr. Richard Fessler, Chair of Rep. Dold's Health Care Advisory Board. "We must continue to find opportunities to develop new approaches which will lower cost, improve quality, increase access to and stability of insurance and encourage medical innovation."

"Today's ruling is neither a victory or a defeat, but rather an opportunity to redefine our health care system with better input from both patients and physicians," said Dr. Kennith Schmidt, member of Rep. Dold's Health Care Advisory Board.

"As a physician, my patients are my first priority. The ACA promised more regulation of health care and more intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship, but no structural reforms to address the long term trend of spiraling health care costs that jeopardize the well-being of my patients," said Dr. Alex Goldin, member of Rep. Dold's Health Care Advisory Board.

From Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (R-IL):

Roskam with Marathon Pundit

The Supreme Court's ruling examined the Constitutionality of the health care law, but the Justices could not take into account the practicality or effectiveness of a government takeover of our health care system and one-sixth of our economy—on that score, the verdict was in long ago.

The American people are disappointed in this law and fearful of its full effects because so far, the rhetoric does not match up to the reality. Remember when the president said, "If you like what you have, you can keep it?" Some estimates say up to 30 percent of employers will definitely drop their employee health coverage, forcing many into state exchanges.

Remember when we were promised the law would lower costs? Family premiums have already increased by 9 percent, with costs predicted to rise for years to come. And what of the promise that the law would bend the cost curve down? Recent studies show that government spending is expected to explode to half of all health care spending in the United States. One of the few promises that came true was when then Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "We have to pass the law to find out what’s in it."

President Obama’s takeover not only made our health care system more complex and expensive, but stalled our already tepid economic recovery by creating tremendous uncertainty for job creators and small businesses.

“The House of Representatives is as committed as ever to full repeal of the disastrous health care law, and replacing it with common-sense, patient-centered solutions that families can afford. The American people deserve better than what President Obama’s health care law provides. We can do better and we will do better.

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) has this to say:

"While I respect the Court’s decision, the health care law threatens our economic recovery by raising taxes, imposing new regulations and creating a drag on the economy," said Senator Kirk. "Congress should repeal the health care law and replace it with common sense, centrist reforms that give Americans the right to buy insurance across state lines and expand coverage without raising taxes, while blocking the government from coming between patients and their doctors."

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL):

Walsh with Marathon Pundit

"Today, I, along with most Americans, am disappointed with the Supreme Court decision. It is now clear that the only way to repeal this law is legislatively," Walsh said. "Today's decision only affirms what we have known all along - the President's health care plan is a massive tax increase. The President insisted that his health care plan would not cost the American people anything, but that is just untrue. To be clear, this is not a tax on wealthy Americans who already have insurance. This tax hits the 44 million uninsured Americans, who are already struggling and cannot afford to pay more hard-earned income in taxes.

"The American people deserve a choice in their health care plans, not government mandates. The President's health care plan is an unworkable mega-bill that will destroy small businesses, kill jobs, stunt economic growth, and bankrupt the nation.

"My opponent, Tammy Duckworth, a true tax-and-spend liberal, supports this new tax on the Middle Class. In fact, not only does Tammy support the President's current tax and spend health care plan, but she is on record supporting a single-payer socialized system. I, however, will make it my top priority to repeal this massive tax increase and the President's entire health care plan.

"As a new member of Congress, I turned down my gold-plated Congressional health care plan. Instead, I chose to buy my insurance on the open market, and I know firsthand how difficult it is to find affordable, quality health insurance. The Supreme Court's decision has finally ended the debate in Washington. The American people will decide where we get from here."

Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL):

The president's health care law is wreaking havoc on our economy by surging health insurance costs for Americans, hiking taxes, and hurting the efforts of small employers to put Americans back to work. In fact, I have already heard from small business owners in northern Illinois who will either lay off workers or forgo new hires in order to stay below the 50-employee threshold that would require them to purchase costly insurance for their employees.

“Americans are rightfully concerned that their employer-provided health insurance is threatened with this new law, and they don’t want it. I will join with our leaders in the House and support full repeal of the President’s health care law and instead pursue reforms that will truly make health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans without destroying our economy and stifling job creation in America.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL):

Since its passage, the Affordable Care Act has caused deep divisions over its constitutionality. While I respect the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court, I am extremely disappointed that the Court has given unrestricted authority to the federal government to interfere in the personal lives of American families. This ruling upholds an additional 2.5 percent tax on hardworking Americans on top of the tax increases that already exist in this health care law.

Kinzinger

I have voted 40 times to fully repeal the government takeover of health care, block the individual provisions, or defund certain programs. The question we must ask ourselves now is whether President Obama's newly designed health care system is feasible. The Administration promised that the legislation, if passed, would control rising health care costs while deficit neutral. However, we now know those claims were false.

The path toward affordable health care starts with allowing Americans to buy insurance across state lines; providing reduced premiums for individuals and small businesses; protecting seniors and those with pre-existing conditions; allowing younger Americans to remain on their parent's insurance; enacting real medical liability reform, which is a key element to lowering costs; and creating reforms that will protect the doctor-patient relationship.

We must work expeditiously to enact real reforms that reduce bureaucracy, does not bypass free market principles, and provide Americans with improved and affordable options when choosing their health care.

Virginia Republian Senate candidate George Allen released this response:

While disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision on President Obama's health care law, I believe it reinforces what is truly at stake during this pivotal election. This November the American people have an opportunity to choose new leadership in Washington who will listen to their voices and repeal this costly, harmful government health care law.

My opponent believes this health care law is a "great achievement," but I believe it's an infringement on individual liberty and free enterprise. As I have traveled throughout Virginia, I have heard from families, small business owners and seniors seriously concerned about the harmful impact of this health care law and how it is increasing costs, discouraging businesses from hiring, and trespassing on religious freedom.

I want to be the deciding vote to repeal this health care law. Virginians and Americans would be better served by reforms that deliver on the promise of reducing costs, increasing access to quality care, and put people - not government - in control of their health care. We need health care reforms that provide Americans with affordable, portable, and personal market-based health care solutions including Health Savings Accounts. I also support allowing small businesses to join together across State lines in larger risk pools for lower insurance costs and more competition and greater choice. And the States should be allowed the flexibility to manage Medicaid more smartly and efficiently.

"Virginia has proven that historic reforms can be achieved if leaders are willing to work together. As Governor, I worked with a Democrat-controlled legislature to pass major reforms including welfare reform, abolition of parole and Standards of Learning - now Washington needs the leadership and political will to achieve real health care reform.

From Stop the HIT (Health Insurance Tax):

"While the court has decided on the constitutional questions related to the PPACA, the fact remains that provisions within the law having to do with taxation will continue to have an adverse impact on the small business community and they should be repealed," stated Duane Musser, Vice President of Government Relations with the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), a member of the Stop The HIT Coalition. "The HIT on small business, unless it is repealed before 2014, will make the cost of healthcare even more unrealistic for millions of small business owners and their employees. Members of Congress who are serious about improving the state of our economy should act quickly to pass current, bipartisan legislation repealing this costly and burdensome tax on our nation’s top job creators."

If no action is taken, the HIT will:

Progress with yearly indexed increases totaling $87 billion in the first decade alone;

Result in a $500 annual reduction in the take-home pay of the average small business employee with a family plan, according to a report from the Joint Committee on Taxation; and

Result in a loss of nearly 250,000 U.S. jobs and $30 billion in national sales by the year 2021, according to the NFIB Research Foundation.

The Joint Committee on Taxation reports that repealing the HIT would reduce health insurance premiums by 2.5 percent, providing nearly immediate relief to small businesses and their employees.

Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced the “The Jobs and Premium Protection Act,” and Representatives Charles Boustany (R-LA) and Dan Boren (D-OK) introduced companion House legislation that has more than 150 bipartisan cosponsors.

The Stop The HIT Coalition represents the nation's small business owners, their employees and the self-employed who are actively working to repeal the Health Insurance Tax. Since the Coalition's formation last May, it has grown to include more than 35 national organizations, representing millions of small business owners across the country. The Coalition’s website enables small business owners and employees to sign a petition and write a letter to their Representatives in Washington urging them to repeal this tax.

Learn more at www.StopTheHIT.com.

You have to give Stop the HIT credit, they were among the first to call ObamaCare a tax.

From the Republican Attorneys General Association:

Republican Attorneys General Association Chairman Scott Pruitt (R-OK) issued the following statement today following a decision from the Supreme Court of the United States to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

We're disappointed the Court upheld the individual mandate, and find it disturbing that they did not place a limit on the power of the federal government to control the lives of Americans.

But, the battle isn't over. It is now up to the political process to repeal the act and replace it with measures that address the health care crisis within the confines of the Constitution. We must continue to oppose this act and multiple overreaching regulations proposed by the Obama Administration that cross the line of federal power.

This fall, the American people will have the opportunity to save the country from a disastrous future of similar intrusive policies and budget-busting costs by choosing their leaders wisely. Freedom and flexibility must remain with the states whose leaders know best how to care for the needs of their citizens.

Republican attorneys general will continue to serve as a firewall, taking every action to defend our states against this massive overreach from the federal government.

And finally, Tom Donahue, president of the US Chamber of Commerce, had this to say:

While we respect the Court's decision, today’s Supreme Court ruling does not change the reality that the health care law is fundamentally flawed. Left unchanged, it will cost many Americans their employer-based health insurance, undermine job creation, and raise health care costs for all.

It is imperative that policymakers and the business community now work together to develop and support genuine reforms that control costs, improve access, ensure quality, and promote wellness. These reforms and goals are achievable. The Chamber and the American business community are ready to go to work to enact true health care reform. Given the Court's decision, the need for action has never been greater.