The President calls the Supreme Court ruling Thursday a victory for all people in America, but Missouri republicans disagree.
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s health care law, including the most disputed part: the mandate that virtually all Americans have health insurance or pay a fine.
Missouri lawmakers, including Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon have voiced opposition to the decision. Republican US House Rep. Sam Graves vowed to continue to fight to repeal the law.
“My fellow house republicans and I will continue to fight to return the power of medical decisions to families and not government bureaucrats,” Graves said. “This ruling has set the tone for the relationships of all levels of government for years to come.”
Missouri Gov. Nixon has admitted he does not support the government telling people they have to buy health insurance. He does however support other parts of the law.
“I think the lifetime benefit cap, if someone gets cancer, they shouldn’t be in a situations where their treatment causes them to lose their insurance,” Nixon said. “The pre-existing conditions and other things of that nature are solid reforms that I think are important.”
Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt opposed the bill. In a video response to the supreme court’s decision, Blunt raised three questions.
Is it Constitutional, can we afford it, is it a good idea? The court appears to think it is Constitution. It doesn’t mean its affordable or a good idea,” Blunt said.
St Louis Democratic Congressman Lacy Clay was pleased with the result.
“Most importantly, tens of millions of Americans will gain health insurance. That is the true victory,” Clay said. “I wholeheartedly believe in making quality health care available to and affordable for all Americans, and am encouraged that the Supreme Court agrees.”
Currently, 835,000 state residents are uninsured, or about 14 percent. Missouri received an initial planning grant but has not implemented an online health insurance exchange, a cornerstone of the federal law, because of opposition to it by some Republican state senators.
Missouri residents will vote in November on a ballot measure asking whether Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration should be barred from implementing an insurance exchange without specific authority in state law.
The video responses from Rep. Sam Graves and Senator Roy Blunt are below.