Reaction to SCOTUS Health Care Law Decision

State Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Nelson last year served as a member of the Joint Task Force to Study the Federal Health Care Law.

“I want Oklahoma to stand strong in its continuing fight against the implementation of this destructive Federal law at every turn and I will do everything I can to assist in the effort.

“Chief Justice John Marshall’s 1819 axiom, ‘The power to tax is the power to destroy,’ came to mind as I heard the news of the U.S. Supreme Court decision today upholding Obamacare on the basis that it is a tax. Clearly that power has been trained on individual and religious liberty by President Obama and Democrat Leaders in Congress.

“It is unimaginable that our Founding Fathers could have intended for the Federal government to compel American citizens to buy health insurance or pay a tax.”

Governor Mary Fallin released the following statement:

“Oklahomans have voiced their opposition to the federal health care bill from the very beginning, having approved a constitutional amendment to block the implementation of this bill in our state. We believe that, rather than Big Government bureaucracy and one-size-fits-all solutions, the free-market principles of choice and competition are the best tools at our disposal to increase access to health care and reduce costs.

“I’m extremely disappointed and frustrated by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal health care law.  President Obama’s  health care policies will limit patients’ health care choices, reduce the quality of health care in the United States, and will cost the state of Oklahoma more than a half billion dollars in the process. 

“Today’s decision highlights the importance of electing leaders who will work to repeal the federal health care law and replace it with meaningful reform focused on commonsense, market based changes.”

House Speaker Kris Steele issued the following statement:

“It’s unprecedented to see America’s highest court rule that the federal government is more powerful than the individual despite the fact that our nation’s founding principles say the opposite. This was a deeply divided opinion, with the dissenting justices explaining precisely why Oklahoma has opposed this law from the beginning. The constitutional concerns that led Oklahoma to tread carefully with policy decisions on all elements of this law – big and small – have proven valid, given the narrowly split opinion. Our best hope now is to elect those willing to repeal this law and work together to find better solutions to the significant health care challenges faced by our state and nation.” – House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee

The Oklahoma Republican Party released the following statement:

The Oklahoma Republican Party released the following statement upon today's Supreme Court decision to uphold Obamacare - including the controversial individual mandate:

"It was over two years ago that Nancy Pelosi said, 'We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it.' Well, Americans did find out what was in it and they've been against this massive government-growing, budget-busting, hyper-partisan bill ever since," said OKGOP Chairman Matt Pinnell.

"The Supreme Court has provided us one more strong argument for why Governor Romney must defeat Barack Obama this November. Governor Romney has been crystal clear: he will repeal and replace Obamacare," concluded Pinnell.


The Facts About Obamacare

Nearly Three-Quarters Of Small-Business Owners Blame Obamacare For Impeding Job Creation. “As part of the explanation for the general economic pessimism, 78 percent of small businesses believe that taxation, regulation and legislation from Washington make it harder for businesses to hire more employees — and 74 percent blame the recent health care reforms passed by the Obama administration for creating an impediment to job creation.” (Tim Mak, “Chamber Poll: Small Biz Blames D.C.,” Politico, 1/18/12)

Obamacare Contained “The Largest Tax Increase Since 1993.” “Keep in mind that Mr. Obama has already signed the largest tax increase since 1993. While everyone focuses on the Bush tax rates that expire after 2012, other tax increases are already set to hit the economy thanks to the 2010 Affordable Care Act.” (Editorial, “Taxes Upon Taxes Upon…,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/11/11)

The Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office Estimated That Obamacare Will Raise Taxes By Hundreds Of Billions Of Dollars Over Its First 10 Years. (CBO Director Douglas W. Elmendorf, Testimony, U.S. House Of Representatives, 3/30/11)