Republicans are slamming the Supreme Court for upholding ObamaCare subsidies, questioning the logic that Chief Justice John Roberts and the majority used to spare the healthcare law from a devastating defeat.
“They deserve an Olympic medal for the legal gymnastics,” Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, told The Hill.
{mosads}The 6-3 ruling on Thursday in King v. Burwell maintains the power of the federal government to distribute insurance subsidies under ObamaCare. The majority held that the phrase “established by the state” was not intended to limit the subsidies to states that created their own insurance marketplaces, calling that interpretation of the law “implausible.”
With the Roberts court ruling in favor of ObamaCare for the second time in three years, some Republicans reacted with anger to the decision, echoing the blistering dissent of Justice Antonin Scalia.
The ruling is “an out-of-control act of judicial tyranny,” said presidential hopeful and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
It “turns both the rule of law and common sense on its head,” added Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), also a presidential candidate.
The court has “vested legislative powers to the executive branch — seriously undermining our Constitution and transforming us further into a nation governed by the rule of rulers,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas).
Republican lawmakers vowed to keep fighting to repeal ObamaCare and said the battle against the law is far from over.
“Today the Supreme Court failed to recognize how terribly flawed President Obama’s health care law is for millions of Georgians suffering under the law’s health insurance premium spikes and intrusive mandates,” said Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.). “Despite this action by the Supreme Court I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to repeal and replace Obamacare.”
Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) linked the ruling to what he sees as broader lawlessness from Obama.
“The Supreme Court’s decision today further reinforces the fact that in President Obama’s America, the law no longer matters,” he said. “The fight is not over. I will continue working to dismantle the President’s takeover of healthcare.”
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said the court battles could continue in other cases, as well.
“We’ll take every action possible in Congress, in the courts, and in statehouses across our country to stop this unworkable and unaffordable law from hurting more Americans,” he said.