Reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision on health care
MILWAUKEE -- Reaction is pouring in over the decision to uphold the national health care law by the U.S. Supreme Court. Here's a look at statements by prominent Republican politicians with ties to Wisconsin. As statements from Democratic politicians arrive, we'll post them as well.
Gov. Scott Walker (R): “The Supreme Court’s ruling on President Obama’s controversial and damaging healthcare law will not stop the fight to bring true, market-driven healthcare reform to the American people. Today’s decision means increased taxes on middle class families, higher costs for small businesses, endless amounts of debt for future generations, and fewer healthcare options. Governor Romney is the leader Wisconsin and America needs to reverse this disastrous law, and he will begin working on Day One to repeal and replace Obamacare with one that provides quality medical care by offering consumers more choice, not less.”
Rep. Gwen Moore (D): “Today’s decision is a victory for all Americans. We can now be assured that Americans continue to receive the health care they urgently need and most definitely deserve. So many in my home state of Wisconsin will benefit and are already benefitting from the ACA. They can now breathe a sigh of relief that they will continue to benefit from critical patient protections, lower costs, expanded coverage and greater accountability from the insurance industry."
Sen. Ron Johnson (R): "Freedom took a real body blow. It is now up to Congress -- and
hopefully a new President -- to repeal this unpopular monstrosity and replace it with free market reforms that will actually improve the quality and restrain the cost of health care in America.''
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R): “The health care law’s taxes and mandates are making it harder to create jobs. Its budgeting gimmicks will bankrupt our country. It’s both failing to curb health care costs and forcing up to 35 million Americans to lose their employer-provided health insurance. The President’s health care law and massive tax increase needs to be repealed in full if we are going to get our economy back on track."
Mark Neumann (R): “Now more than ever it will take a conservative United States Senate to repeal ObamaCare. The Supreme Court’s faulty decision today means we have to elect conservatives to the Senate this fall to end ObamaCare and eliminate the individual mandate."
State Rep. Sandy Pasch (D): "Now, it is time for Gov. Walker and his allies to quit
pandering to extreme interests at the expense of our children and families by moving forward with full implementation of (the Affordable Care Act) in Wisconsin."
Rep. Tom Petri (R): "I am very disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the constitutionality of President Obama's health care law. Just because it may be considered constitutional does not mean it is the right thing to do. The law is a significant overreach on the part of Congress and takes a fundamentally wrong approach to achieving the goal of making affordable coverage available to all Americans. I am pleased, however, that the American people will have an opportunity to make their voice heard on this subject later this year."
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus: "Today's Supreme Court decision sets the stakes for the November election. Now, the only way to save the country from ObamaCare's budget-busting government takeover of health care is to elect a new president."
City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner Bevan Baker: "As Health Commissioner for the City of Milwaukee, I am very pleased that the Supreme Court has upheld the major components of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This historic decision reaffirms the American values of community and equal opportunity for all. Not only will this decision ensure that all people have access to affordable private insurance or Medicaid, it also provides increased access to prevention and wellness services at no cost to patients, regardless of income. Preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer will help decrease health care costs while simultaneously increasing overall population health."
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