Lara Keel Texas Lobbyist: Supreme Court Takes a Look at Healthcare Reform
The U.S. Supreme Court began examination of a controversial health care reform plan put forth by the Obama administration yesterday. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is under review in the nation’s highest court because of a lawsuit brought by Texas and twenty-five other states.
The act is sometimes referred to as “ObamaCare.”
Debates have raged for several years about this health care act, particularly the part of the Act that mandates health care for all citizens, with financial penalties for all who do not have health coverage.
Texas and other states are challenging this part of the Act. The claim is being made that the mandate is, in fact, unconstitutional. The Act has been challenged three times in lower courts. Twice it has been upheld and once struck down.
Public hearings at the Supreme Court began yesterday – 3-26-12
In an interesting twist, at question is whether or not that healthcare mandate can be considered a new tax. If so, this will open a whole new set of issues for those for and against the Patient Care Act.
Read more about this at the Texas Tribune.
