LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to explore an appeal of a federal judge’s ruling invalidating the Affordable Care Act.
The act, which governs health insurance and is often referred to as Obamacare, remains in effect as the matter moves through an appeals process likely to end at the U.S. Supreme Court.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has also said he will oppose the ruling and the county board could join a state filing or file its own suit as a plaintiff, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said.
“If you believe, like I do, that health care is a right, then this ruling is a step backwards,” Ridley-Thomas said. “The ACA has already withstood relentless legal and political challenges, and I am confident that justice will prevail again and this widely popular law will be upheld.”
Ridley-Thomas said the landmark law has cut the county’s number of uninsured residents in half and more than 1 million residents have gained coverage through the law’s expansion of Medi-Cal.
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who co-authored Ridley-Thomas’ motion, said the law had proved resistant to attacks.
“The ACA has already survived more than 70 repeal attempts in Congress and scrutiny by the Supreme Court,” Solis said. “After eight years of nonstop attacks, repeal votes and lawsuits, Obamacare is still here, delivering life-saving care to 20 million Americans.”
Federal District Court Judge Reed O’Connor ruled on Friday that because Congress eliminated the fine for failing to comply with the ACA’s health insurance mandate, the mandate is no longer permissible under Congress’ taxing power and therefore unconstitutional. Calling the individual mandate is “essential” to the ACA, O’Connor then declared the entire law invalid.
However, the judge denied a request for an injunction against the health care law, so that its provisions remain in effect across the nation.
–
Andrew says
… 5 fundamental failures with Obamacare legislation:
1). it doubled co-pays 4 times in 8 years, on all ERISA based policies –
– e.g., under Obamacare, co-insurance on ERISA based policies skyrocketed to such extent, patients could no longer afford the procedures they were referred upon;
2). it tripled premiums, on all ERISA based policies –
– e.g., the Obamacare made employer based programs so expensive, workers who were forced to drop spouses and their children from their employer plans, watched their loved one slip into a regulatory black hole, where they were willfully and systematically prohibited, from access to ACA plans.
3). the mandate –
– e.g., penalties for non-compliance disproportionately impacted low income working poor;
4). It’s inefficient –
– e.g., healthcare in America is a mess; the Obamacare boasted no affect whatsoever, on quality or efficiency of healthcare –
5). it was crafted, drafted and conceived, by Nancy Pelosi –
– e.g., when America needed subsidized healthcare, what they were saddled with, instead, was a government subsidized mandatory insurance policy intended, only for certain people; everyone else, the Obamacare sought to punish –
Magnetlady says
The ACA wasn’t about ”Health or Care”, it was about wealth redistribution… With the expansion of MEDI-CAL, be aware that CA has the ”Estate Recovery Program” as well… So, that means that if you have any assets when you die, the State Of CA will get repaid from your Estate… Medi-Cal is a Federal/State program so ”We The Taxpayer” contribute to the funds .. Read here about ”Estate Recovery”: https://www.ocregister.com/2015/05/19/ask-emily-medi-cal-will-charge-your-heirs-for-your-care-after-you-die/
Medi-Cal doesn’t tell you all of this, so be very careful especially if you own a HOME!!
Injunction says
Gavin Newsome believes he has the solution to this problem.
Tom says
Ever notice they only support and fight for things that don’t help us tax payers. Find a medical insurance program for non insured people that won’t keep increasing my weekly deductions, along with less coverage. Then I would gladly support it, but till then stop stealing our hard earned money
Michael says
Why not fight it..they will use more free money from taxpayers . If they run out, they will just find another way to tax working taxpayers for more. …