Many Republicans, including Trump, claimed they wanted to preserve the popular Obamacare provision to protect people with pre-existing conditions. At the same time, they supported a court case to kill Obamacare.
Now, a judge made a far-reaching decision that goes beyond even what some Republicans wanted but that was always a risk. Trump tweeted praise for the decision which kills all of Obamacare. This will wind up in the Supreme Court.
The GOP know that they can’t repeal the ACA in Congress. So they’ve continued their crusade through the courts — and a right-wing judge in Texas ruled in their favor. Let’s be very clear: the ACA is still the law of the land. https://t.co/ddjSJsXWkc
— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) December 15, 2018
States Involved in ACA Lawsuit #AMJoy #Obamacare pic.twitter.com/oCH75rF2tH
— AM Joy w/Joy Reid (@amjoyshow) December 15, 2018
Two legal experts who were on opposite sides of challenges to ACA at SCOTUS in 2012 and 2015 agree this time on how flawed last night's ACA ruling was: "this decision makes a mockery of the rule of law and basic principles of democracy." https://t.co/XUHgmPvQnV
— Indivisible Guide (@IndivisibleTeam) December 15, 2018
Judge Reed O'Connor, appointed by George W. Bush, previously blocked other Obama protections including another ACA rule, transgender rights, native American children's rights. You get the picture. https://t.co/p66AbF3wsJ
— Kevin B. Blackistone (@ProfBlackistone) December 15, 2018
I have a lot of friends who will try to downplay this ACA decision – "it's totally unsound logic!" "It will be appealed!" – but it actually should be a mass freakout moment about how vulnerable our hard-won progressive gains remain due to the fact we ceded the courts to the GOP
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) December 15, 2018
Researchers find roughly one additional death per year for every 800 people who lose insurance. So if the result of the GOP suit is that ACA falls and millions of Americans lose insurance, the consequence is also clear: More Americans will die. https://t.co/Xz01FYJBQT
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) December 15, 2018
Short answer: Every legal attack on ACA has been focused on the market-based aspects. Mandate, subsidies. No court has suggested that expanding existing government programs would violate the Constitution. https://t.co/1HkpcQ1odp
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 15, 2018
Analysis: With ACA in peril, Republicans get to show if they really want to protect people with preexisting conditions https://t.co/0CwwlsLuni
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 15, 2018
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!
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) December 15, 2018
This is exactly why Cruz argued that the ACA needed to be killed in 2013 — once the benefits were locked in, it would be politically impossible to take them away. 40 House Republicans, when they finish updating their resumes, will tell you he was right. https://t.co/wk43aJFgCw
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 15, 2018
The case, seemingly bound for the Supreme Court's new conservative majority, now threatens to complicate a wide array of policies. https://t.co/6jt0XpYS5a
— POLITICO (@politico) December 15, 2018
update
There was not enough coverage of this lie at the time. https://t.co/ySUNr1lTKb
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 15, 2018
update 12/16/18
Former President Barack Obama responded to a federal judge's ruling that core aspects of the Affordable Care Act were unconstitutional. https://t.co/JtTQnNLAmW
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) December 16, 2018
Sad! 