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3 Key Takeaways From The King v. Burwell Oral Arguments
Key Moments From Oral Arguments Bode Well For The Affordable Care Act
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in King v. Burwell today, the latest partisan threat to the Affordable Care Act that threatens to strip subsidies away from millions of Americans in more than three dozen states. While the arguments presented by the lawyers and the questioning from the Justices certainly don’t give us the answer to how the case will turn out, they do provide an early indication of how the Justices may be leaning in their decision. With that in mind, we wanted to highlight three key points from the oral arguments today that could indicate that the subsidies for millions of Americans — and by extension Obamacare as a whole — will be safe when the ruling is handed down in June. For more in-depth analysis be sure to read Think Progress Justice editor Ian Millhiser’s complete analysis.
1. Justice Anthony Kennedy was concerned about what the consequences of a ruling for the challengers would mean. At one point during the arguments, Kennedy, always a potential swing Justice, acknowledged the reality that states would face if tax credits are cut off in states with federally run exchanges: premiums would spike, healthy people would drop out of the marketplace, and a so-called “death spiral” of higher premiums for fewer, sicker customers would ensue. An interpretation of the law that forces states to choose between setting up their own exchanges and eliminated tax credits raises “a serious constitutional problem,” Kennedy said.
2. The Justices got the challengers to admit that context matters. It may seem obvious that context matters — but this is actually somehow a critical debate in a legal argument where the challengers case rests on reading a single clause in place of the clear meaning of the entire law. After a nifty hypothetical from Justice Kagan, Michael Carvin, the attorney for the challengers, responded to “implore” the Justices to make their decision taking into account “the context of the Act as a whole.””
3. For any indication of momentum outside the courtroom, look no farther than right outside the Supreme Court steps. Hundreds of ACA supporters turned out to rally in support of the law and urging the court to protect health care for millions of Americans; meanwhile, just a handful of opponents thought it important enough to show up. The Washington Post writes, “If good organization could win a legal debate, supporters of the Affordable Care Act would triumph.”
Take a look at some of the best signs from the rally:
And if that’s not enough, check out the spate of editorials in support of the law from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Tampa Bay Times, Kansas City Star, Dallas Morning News, Knoxville New Sentinel … (shall we go on? Yes we shall) … Albany Times Union, Orlando Sentinel, Bangor Daily News, and the Toledo Blade.
BOTTOM LINE: We’ve known from the beginning that this challenge to the Affordable Care Act is a politically-motivated, legally weak attack from those trying to use the Court to do what they have been unable to do in Congress or at the ballot box: repeal the Affordable Care Act. After today’s oral arguments, we hope the Justices will see that as well and make a decision that upholds the law, and doesn’t savage the reputation of the court. Momentum is with us.
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“Woven Into The Fabric Of America”
“Woven Into The Fabric Of America”
by CAP Action War Room Posted on June 9, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Five Years Later, The Affordable Care Act Has Transformed Our Health Care System
Five years ago, the idea that healthcare reform would give millions of uninsured Americans health coverage, guarantee access to insurance to people with pre-existing conditions, eliminate lifetime limits on Americans’ health coverage, and help slow the growth of healthcare costs sounded ambitious to put it gently. But five years after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, all of that has become a reality.
In a speech this morning, President Obama spoke about how health care reform has now been woven into the fabric of America. “So five years in, what we are talking about it is no longer just a law. It’s no longer just a theory. This isn’t even just about the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. This isn’t about myths or rumors that folks try to sustain. There is a reality that people on the ground day to day are experiencing. Their lives are better,” he said. The reality is that the ACA has succeeded at delivering quality, affordable health care to millions of Americans. Here is some proof:
Despite all the evidence that the law is working, opponents of the ACA continue to work to undo all its success. The president put it best this morning when he said, “It seems so cynical… to punish millions with higher costs of care and unravel what’s now been woven into the fabric of America.” With King v. Burwell the Supreme Court has the potential to reverse much of the progress health care law has made and take away the peace of mind that millions of Americans have gained thanks to the law’s success.
For more about the impacts of King v. Burwell, check out this new video from the Center for American Progress and visit HearTheNine.org to read stories from Americans whose health coverage is on the line.
BOTTOM LINE: Since the Affordable Care Act went into effect, millions of previously uninsured Americans have gained health coverage. American families have been saved from financial catastrophe and lives have been saved. But still, despite the fact that none of the doom-and-gloom predictions came to pass, ideologically-charged politicians continue to try to undo all the progress that has been made.
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10 Reasons Dish Soap May Be the Only Product You Need?
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If you think dish soap is just a boring kitchen essential, well, we hate to burst your bubble.
That little inexpensive plastic bottle of Joy or Palmolive (or store brand, if you’re thrifty) is actually far more useful than we give it credit for! Not only can you clean a sink-full of dirty dishes with it, you can do everything from lightening your hair color to ridding your pets of fleas!
Instead of heading to the supermarket and spending a small fortune on products that fix squeaky hinges, kill the weeds in your lawn and clean your air conditioning units, use that inexpensive bottle of dish soap you already have to handle all of that.
1)
Remove Carpet Stains
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