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US federal judge rules Obama healthcare law unconstitutional US federal judge rules Obama healthcare law unconstitutional
(about 11 hours later)
A US federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional, a decision that was likely to be appealed to the supreme court. A US federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional – a decision likely to be appealed to the supreme court.
US district judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth agreed with a coalition of 20 states that a change in tax law last year eliminating a penalty for not having health insurance invalidated the entire Obamacare law.US district judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth agreed with a coalition of 20 states that a change in tax law last year eliminating a penalty for not having health insurance invalidated the entire Obamacare law.
O’Connor’s decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law.O’Connor’s decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law.
About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans, according to the US government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans, according to the US government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The coalition of states challenging the law was led by Texas attorney general Ken Paxton and Wisconsin attorney general Brad Schimel, both Republicans.The coalition of states challenging the law was led by Texas attorney general Ken Paxton and Wisconsin attorney general Brad Schimel, both Republicans.
Republicans have opposed the 2010 law, the signature domestic policy achievement of Barack Obama, since its inception and have repeatedly tried and failed to repeal it.Republicans have opposed the 2010 law, the signature domestic policy achievement of Barack Obama, since its inception and have repeatedly tried and failed to repeal it.
Obamacare isn't perfect, but it's a start – and it's better than the nothing we had | Liz SeegertObamacare isn't perfect, but it's a start – and it's better than the nothing we had | Liz Seegert
The White House hailed Friday’s ruling, but said the law would remain in place pending its expected appeal to the supreme court. “Once again, the president calls on Congress to replace Obamacare and act to protect people with preexisting conditions and provide Americans with quality affordable healthcare,” the White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.The White House hailed Friday’s ruling, but said the law would remain in place pending its expected appeal to the supreme court. “Once again, the president calls on Congress to replace Obamacare and act to protect people with preexisting conditions and provide Americans with quality affordable healthcare,” the White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
Taking to Twitter on Friday night, Donald Trump celebrated the decision, calling the Affordable Care Act an “unconstitutional disaster”.Taking to Twitter on Friday night, Donald Trump celebrated the decision, calling the Affordable Care Act an “unconstitutional disaster”.
“Great news for America!” he added.“Great news for America!” he added.
Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great news for America!Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great news for America!
Democrats were quick to condemn the judge’s decision. Democratic Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi said it “exposes the monstrous endgame of the GOP’s all-out assault on people w/ pre-existing conditions”.Democrats were quick to condemn the judge’s decision. Democratic Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi said it “exposes the monstrous endgame of the GOP’s all-out assault on people w/ pre-existing conditions”.
Tonight’s absurd ruling exposes the monstrous endgame of the GOP’s all-out assault on people w/ pre-existing conditions & the ACA. When @HouseDemocrats take the gavel, the House will swiftly intervene in the appeals process to #ProtectOurCare! https://t.co/EJxrToGA7V pic.twitter.com/xGjKWrdQODTonight’s absurd ruling exposes the monstrous endgame of the GOP’s all-out assault on people w/ pre-existing conditions & the ACA. When @HouseDemocrats take the gavel, the House will swiftly intervene in the appeals process to #ProtectOurCare! https://t.co/EJxrToGA7V pic.twitter.com/xGjKWrdQOD
The Democratic senator Chris Murphy, a member of the US Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Help) Committee, criticized the decision in a statement late on Friday.The Democratic senator Chris Murphy, a member of the US Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Help) Committee, criticized the decision in a statement late on Friday.
“This is a five-alarm fire – Republicans just blew up our healthcare system,” he said. “The anti-healthcare zealots in the Republican party are intentionally ripping health care away from the working poor, increasing costs on seniors, and making insurance harder to afford for people with preexisting conditions.”“This is a five-alarm fire – Republicans just blew up our healthcare system,” he said. “The anti-healthcare zealots in the Republican party are intentionally ripping health care away from the working poor, increasing costs on seniors, and making insurance harder to afford for people with preexisting conditions.”
In June, the justice department declared the healthcare law’s “individual mandate” unconstitutional in federal court. The decision was a break with a long-standing executive branch practice of defending existing statutes in court.In June, the justice department declared the healthcare law’s “individual mandate” unconstitutional in federal court. The decision was a break with a long-standing executive branch practice of defending existing statutes in court.
A year ago, Trump signed a $1.5tn tax bill that included a provision eliminating the individual mandate.A year ago, Trump signed a $1.5tn tax bill that included a provision eliminating the individual mandate.
Judge O’Connor is no stranger to the conservative resistance to Obama administration policies. A former state and federal prosecutor who was nominated to the federal bench in 2007 by President George W Bush and has been active in the Federalist Society, which describes itself as “a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order”.Judge O’Connor is no stranger to the conservative resistance to Obama administration policies. A former state and federal prosecutor who was nominated to the federal bench in 2007 by President George W Bush and has been active in the Federalist Society, which describes itself as “a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order”.
In 2016 he blocked a federal directive that required public schools to let transgender students use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. He ruled that Title IX, which the Obama administration cited in support of the directive, “is not ambiguous” about sex being defined as “the biological and anatomical differences between male and female students as determined at their birth.”In 2016 he blocked a federal directive that required public schools to let transgender students use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. He ruled that Title IX, which the Obama administration cited in support of the directive, “is not ambiguous” about sex being defined as “the biological and anatomical differences between male and female students as determined at their birth.”
Also in 2016, he struck down new US Health and Human Services regulations that advised that certain forms of transgender discrimination by doctors, hospitals and insurers violated the Affordable Care Act. He declared that the rules placed “substantial pressure on plaintiffs to perform and cover (gender) transition and abortion procedures.” A coalition of religious medical organizations said the rules could force doctors to help with gender transition contrary to their religious beliefs or medical judgment. Also in 2016, he struck down new US Health and Human Services regulations that advised that certain forms of transgender discrimination by doctors, hospitals and insurers violated the Affordable Care Act. He declared that the rules placed “substantial pressure on plaintiffs to perform and cover (gender) transition and abortion procedures.” A coalition of religious medical organizations said the rules could force doctors to help with gender transition contrary to their religious beliefs or medical judgment.
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