Appeals court finds healthcare mandate unconstitutional

[The Mad Hatter]

A federal appeals court struck down a key part of President Obama's national healthcare law Friday, ruling that Congress does not have the power to require all Americans to buy health insurance.

 

In a 2-1 decision, judges in Atlanta said this mandate is "unprecedented" and unlike any commercial regulation upheld in the past.

 

Even during the Great Depression or World War II, "Congress never sought to require the purchase of wheat or war bonds, force a higher savings rate or greater consumption of American goods," the judges said. Although Congress may regulate those who buy insurance, it may not regulate those who "have not entered the insurance market and have no intention of doing so."

 

The decision by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is a victory for 26 states, led by Florida, which challenged the law as unconstitutional. However, the judges agreed that the rest of the law beyond the mandate is constitutional.

 

The decision now sets the stage for a Supreme Court ruling in the next year that could determine the fate of the huge healthcare reform law.

 

In June, an appeals court in Ohio upheld the law in a 2-1 decision.

 

sauce

[Saffire]

Don't worry, the Supreme Court will make sure we all have "free" health care. This ruling was clearly a mistake, because the Great One is a Constitutional scholar and could never misinterpret that holy document.

[Black Rose]

So the great Obama wants all americans to buy overpriced Insurance from companies whom will do the best they can to avoid paying out, even refusing to pay out over a leg break because you failed to declare something like a broken finger-nail suffered when you were 4 years old.

[Matter-Eater Lad]

Government created the insurance problem by purposely not allowing competition to drive down prices. If we could buy from anywhere in the world, or even other states prices would go down. You'd go from a few options to hundreds or even thosuands. And with all the companies competing, prices would be driven down.

 

Government does this great job of making problems or just making them worse and pretending to be the savior for the people. When in fact their dirty policies are often the main problem. Like keeping me from buying cheaper insurance from California or South Korea....