Majority Celebrate Affordable Care, some resist
Supporters for and against the health care law rallied outside the Supreme Court,waiting to the court's ruling.
Jan Studer, traveled from Idaho, in support of Obamacare. "I believe in health care for all. And I will be on Medicare soon..I have excellent health care, but my children and grandchildren cant afford it. So I'm here to make sure they get it.
Eric Philips, from Virginia says, "I understand why, we want to take care of the people, who cant take care of themselves. And we should want to. But to force a mandate on people tot ke care of others, is not a way to fix the system ...
Ultimately, the Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 ruling, calling the individual mandate “constitutional” and upholding the Affordable Care Act.
David Fontana, a constitutional law professor at George Washington University explains the court's decision.
"It means Obama’s healthcare law will go into effect, as everybody anticipated it would. So the statute changed things, not the court's decision."
Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Roberts, wrote the majority decision, breaking with the more conservative half of the court.
"While there was no shock that the court upheld the law, there was shock as to who wrote the opinion, upholding the law,” adds Fontana.
In the decision, Roberts argues that the mandate is actually a 'tax'. And so as a tax, it is constitutional.
"This leaves citizens with a choice- they can either purchase insurance, or not purchase insurance and pay this tax penalty," says Fontana. . David Fontana has been following this case very closely.
"The court does not say today the federal government must pass the healthcare law. Instead they say that they may, if they want to do so. If Romney wins the election and the Republican Congress says it wants to repeal the law, they can do that too, under today's decision. Todays' decision says it's upto politics," explains Fontana.
Supporters of Obama Care were jubilant at the court's decision.
Jan Studer said, "Joy, absolute joy. All the information we got, was so negative. So when we heard it was upheld, we were ecstatic."
"I think it's surprising, and I think its great. I am for what I've heard about the act. And I think people who need healthcare, should have it," adds Noah Klugman from Massachusetts
Those against the law, vow to unite behind Republicans, including Mitt Romney, and eventually repeal it.
Ryan Hecker from Texas says vehemently, "We can't rely on nine members to do this for us. We have to unite at the ballot box and defeat this law and take it down.”
While Obama care does not go into effect till 2014, the passing of healthcare will be part of President Barack Obama's legacy.
Kyle Schmoyer, Ebru News
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