Senate Republicans press Supreme Court to strike healthcare mandate

{mosads}The Obama administration says the decision to remain uninsured has a major impact on interstate commerce because the costs of uncompensated care are passed on to the government and people who have insurance. The Senate Republicans urged the court to reject that explanation.

“This same rationale would allow Congress to punish individuals for not purchasing a host of health-related products, such as vitamin supplements, the use of which could lower aggregate health costs,” the brief states. “Indeed, it is hard to imagine any private decision not to purchase a particular good or service that does not have some economic impact when aggregated among millions of people. Under that rationale, the government could mandate any commercial activity.”

The four GOP lawmakers missing from the brief are Sens. Scott Brown (Mass.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.).