In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court decided that the conservative campaign against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would not succeed. The ruling held that the ACA does allow for tax credits to be given to buyers who purchased their insurance trough federal healthcare exchanges.
Obamacare, as it is otherwise known, has faced strong opposition from conservatives since it was proposed.
“Five years ago, after nearly a century of talk, decades of trying, a year of bipartisan debate, we finally declared that in America, health care is not a privilege for a few but a right for all,” said President Obama. “The Affordable Care Act is here to stay.”
Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion of the Court.
“Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them” wrote Justice Roberts. “If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter.”
Justice Scalia, disagreeing with the Chief Justice and the majority of the Court, delivered a dissenting opinion. Numerous Republicans also voiced their disapproval of the Court’s opinion.
“I disagree with the Court’s ruling and believe they have once again erred in trying to correct the mistakes made by President Obama and Congress in forcing Obamacare on the American people,” said Florida Senator Marco Rubio. “I remain committed to repealing this bad law and replacing it with my consumer-centered plan that puts patients and families back in control of their health care decisions.”
Despite the desire of many conservatives in the nation, however, the ACA lives on.
