Jun 28, 2012

After some initial confusion from this morning’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the centerpiece of President’s Obama health care overhaul law has been upheld, which will require most Americans to purchase health insurance by 2014 or be subjected to a fine. The photos below present a timeline between August 2009 when President Obama began holding town hall meetings to discuss health insurance reform and today’s Supreme Court ruling.

*Conversation Starter: Do you think Obamacare should be repealed? Why?
Leave your answers in the comments section.

: June 28, 2012: U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R) arrives to give his reaction to the Supreme Court’s upholding key parts of President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare overhaul law in Washington June 28, 2012. Romney said on Thursday that the American people must defeat President Barack Obama in order to overturn his landmark healthcare overhaul. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

: June 28, 2012: US President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House on June 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. Obama addresed the decision by the US Supreme Court to uphold health care reforms. Obama hailed the decision by the Court to uphold his health care reforms as a “victory” for people across America and urged opponents to swing behind the law. “Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives are more secure because of this law and the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it,” Obama said. (Luke Sharrett/AFP/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange following the Supreme Court’s decision on healthcare, June 28, 2012. Wall Street fell more than 1 percent on Thursday, with healthcare stocks trading erratically after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key part of President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul in a surprise move for many investors. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

: June 28, 2012: US Speaker of the House John Boehner, Republican of Ohio, walks from the House chamber on June 28, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Republican leaders set a July 11, 2012 vote in the House of Representatives to repeal US President Barack Obama’s health care law, almost immediately after the Supreme Court upheld it. “We don’t have to accept ‘Obamacare,'” said Boehner in a message sent on his Twitter account. “The House will continue to fight for a full repeal.” (Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: A woman poses for pictures with a man dressed as the Statue of Liberty as the ABC Television Times Square Studios tickertape reports the news on the US Supreme Court ruling on health care reform on June 28, 2012. in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld US President Barack Obama’s health care reforms to insure another 32 million Americans, in a major victory for the president in the heat of a tight re-election contest. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: Rep. Michele Bachmann speaks after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s health care law, on June 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. Today the high court upheld the whole healthcare law of the Obama Administration. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: A supporter of U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul stands outside the Supreme Court in Washington June 28, 2012. A sharply divided Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the centerpiece of Obama’s signature healthcare overhaul law that requires that most Americans get insurance by 2014 or pay a financial penalty. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

: June 28, 2012: A detractor of the Affordable Healthcare Act holds a sign in front of the Supreme Court after the court upheld the legality of the law in Washington June 28, 2012. A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare overhaul law that requires that most Americans get insurance by 2014 or pay a financial penalty. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

: June 28, 2012: Protesters against President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul react outside the Supreme Court in Washington June 28, 2012. A sharply divided Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the centerpiece of Obama’s signature healthcare overhaul law that requires that most Americans get insurance by 2014 or pay a financial penalty. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

: June 28, 2012: Reporters await a decision by the US Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Affordable Healthcare Act, US President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare legislation, outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, June 28, 2012. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: Supporters of US President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare legislation celebrate after the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Healthcare Act, outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, June 28, 2012. The Court upheld the reform but changed some of the key provisions, in a major election-year victory for President Obama. The nation’s top justices ruled that a key plank of Obama’s domestic policy to extend health insurance to some 32 million Americans was constitutional, but imposed some limitations on extending aid to the nation’s poorest. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: Demonstrators in favor of US President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare legislation await a decision by the US Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Affordable Healthcare Act, outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, June 28, 2012. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: Television journalists at the White House report the news of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act June 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. The court’s ruling impacts all Americans and sets up a pivotal issue in the U.S. presidential race between Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: Anti-Obamacare protesters wear masks of U.S. President Barack Obama and Grim Reaper as they demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court June 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its ruling on the Affordable Healthcare Act this morning. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

: June 28, 2012: Belly dancers calling for single payer national health insurance perform outside the Supreme Court in Washington, June 28, 2012. The Supreme Court is set to deliver on Thursday its ruling on President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul, his signature domestic policy achievement, in a historic case that could hand him a huge triumph or a stinging rebuke just over four months before he seeks re-election. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

: June 28, 2012: Detractors of the Affordable Healthcare Act gather in front of the Supreme Court before the court’s announcement of the legality of the law in Washington on June 28, 2012. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to deliver on Thursday its ruling on President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul, his signature domestic policy achievement, in a historic case that could hand him a huge triumph or a stinging rebuke just over four months before he seeks re-election. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

: June 28, 2012: Tea Party supporter William Temple holds up a tea pot as he shouts against President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul outside the Supreme Court in Washington, June 28, 2012. The Supreme Court is set to deliver on Thursday its ruling on President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul, his signature domestic policy achievement, in a historic case that could hand him a huge triumph or a stinging rebuke just over four months before he seeks re-election. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

: June 28, 2012: Carol Anderson (L), and Jamie Sammon (R), pray in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the sweeping health care law championed by President Barack Obama. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

: March 28, 2012: Tea party supporter Susan Clark of California, dressed in colonial garb and face paint, protests against the Obama healthcare legislation as the law’s supporters and detractors rally on the sidewalk in front of the Supreme Court, during the third and final day of legal arguments over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Washington March 28, 2012. Two years after President Barack Obama signed into law the healthcare overhaul, the Supreme Court is taking up a historic test of whether it is valid under the country’s Constitution. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

: March 24, 2012: People hold signs at a Tea Party Patriots rally calling for the repeal of the 2010 healthcare law championed by President Barack Obama, on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 24, 2012. The Supreme Court will hear arguments next Monday to Wednesday over the fate of Obama’s healthcare law, a battle with legal, political and financial implications for the U.S. healthcare system’s biggest overhaul in nearly 50 years. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

: July 27, 2011: A man dressed as Captain America poses as dozens of Tea Party supporters rally near the U.S. Capitol against raising the debt limit in this July 27, 2011. Tea Party supporters now hold fewer sign-waving rallies, a hallmark of their early opposition to bank bailouts and U.S. President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform in 2009. But the movement isn’t losing steam. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

: March 23, 2010: US President Barack Obama, surrounded by lawmakers and guests, signs the healthcare insurance reform legislation during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington on March 23, 2010. Obama signed into law his historic health care reform, enacting the most sweeping social legislation in decades which will ensure coverage for almost all Americans. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

: March 15, 2010: US President Barack Obama speaks on healthcare insurance reform at the Walter F. Ehrnelt Recreation and Senior Center in Strongsville, Ohio, on March 15, 2010. Obama pleaded with lawmakers to pass his health reform bill, relating the heart-rending plight of a cancer victim at the 11th hour of a bitter debate. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

: November 7, 2009: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (L), House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) (C) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) (R) laugh while speaking to the press after a caucus meeting with President Barack Obama on Capitol Hill November 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. US President Barack Obama spoke with members of the House Democratic Caucus about healthcare reform legislation which is expected to be voted on today. (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

: September 17, 2009: Protesters against US President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform stage an act outside the Comcast Center where Obama will hold a rally on healthcare in Colleage Park, Maryland, on September 17, 2009. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: September 17, 2009: A protester against US President Barack Obama’s healthcare displays a placard outside the Comcast Center where Obama will hold a rally on healthcare in Colleage Park, Maryland, on September 17, 2009. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: September 17, 2009: Security personnel escort a man after he shouted against US President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform while Obama spoke during a rally on healthcare at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland, on September 17, 2009. Thousands of people turned out Thursday, some waiting for hours from before sunrise, to hear President Barack Obama speak about his proposed health care reforms. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: September 17, 2009: US President Barack Obama speaks during a rally on healthcare at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland, on September 17, 2009. Thousands of people turned out Thursday, some waiting for hours from before sunrise, to hear President Barack Obama speak about his proposed health care reforms. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: September 9, 2009: U.S. President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of the U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol September 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama addressed the joint session to urge passage of his national health care plan, the centerpiece of his domestic agenda. (Jason Reed-Pool/Getty Images)

: August 20, 2009: US President Barack Obama speaks during Organizing for America’s national health care forum at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Headquarters in Washignton, DC, August 20, 2009. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

: August 11, 2009: U.S. President Barack Obama listens to a question at a town hall meeting August 11, 2009 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. President Obama spoke about the need for health insurance reform to a crowd of eighteen hundred. (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

Supreme Court upholds health care law’s mandate
Justices say Medicaid expansion may be unconstitutional
Staff and wire reports
11:50 a.m. EDT, June 28, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of President Obama’s health care law Thursday, ruling that the government may impose tax penalties on people who do not have health insurance.

The court’s long-awaited ruling rejected a broad legal attack on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act brought by Republican state officials and the National Federation of Independent Business.

The legal challenge focused on the law’s so-called mandate that all must have insurance by 2014 or pay a tax penalty.

The administration defended this requirement under Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce. The challengers insisted the mandate was unprecedented and unconstitutional because the federal government would be forcing Americans to buy a private product.

Read more.

4 Comments

CarolAST
Jun 28, 2012 @ 13:50:21

Our Constitutional rights have been subordinated to the powerlust of the health fascists and the greed of the insurance industry! Requiring the insurance companies to pay for goodies for some was a cynical gambit by the Obama administration to inflict financial hardships on the industry, while currying favor with the short-sighted. Then, they used those hardships that they imposed, unnecessarily, as the pretext for the mandate. And then, all people would be in the clutches of the health fascists, who want to control the details of our personal lives, and whose pseudo-science is based on quackery, fraud and charlatanism! No escape would be possible, because those intrusions are a required part of every ACA-approved health insurance plan! The National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council will be chaired by the politician-appointed Surgeon General, whose every report on smoking has been suitable for a trial exhibit of scientific fraud. The Council members are the politician-appointed heads of other government departments, which will be enlisted into a monolithic health fascist policy juggernaut, with a politician-appointed Advisory Council which “shall develop policy and program recommendations and advise the Council on lifestyle-based chronic disease prevention and management, integrative health care practices, and health promotion.” This government is totally corrupt.

America901
Jun 28, 2012 @ 13:00:15

“Forward Barack J-Smoove” I think this is great for our President and it couldn’t have been better timing! I’m proud of Obama! Great job, Sir!

lauren wilson
Jun 28, 2012 @ 12:59:15

Pay for healthcare hopefully you will have d decent job that will allow you to be able to afford healthcare. you can barely fine a decent job let alone paying for healthcare. i thimk it is unfair only the welloff can afford that .

kenward42
Jun 28, 2012 @ 12:16:00

From what I understand, this new tax, mainly affecting the middle class, will add about 40 million people to insurance coverage, but no additional doctors. However, it is also going to add something like 60 thousand IRS agents ( to follow-up on people to see if they have the mandated health insurance. So, in the future we will probably often have to our medical ailments treated by IRS agents.

Supreme Court upholds centerpiece of Obamacare

4 Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel