Obamacare faces challenge at the US Supreme Court (oral arguments today)

[All Along The Watchtower]

Couldn't find a thread on this.

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NPR.

Also, here's a Scotusblog article setting up the background to the private debate among the justices.

Feel free to post predictions, opinions, etc.

[Antonio the Sixth]

If the Court strikes the subsidies down, the US is officially not a democracy anymore.

[King]

Kennedy doesn't sound like he's buying into it.

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Even if Roberts gets pressured into flipping on this, Kennedy is moving the other way. I'm not too concerned.

[IceSpear]

Ironically, the fact that Obamacare ended up being so "corporate-friendly" may very well end up being what saves us from having to return to the status quo. If the insurance industry was vehemently against this bill, there's no question on how this pro-corporation SCOTUS would rule.

[Mehmentum]

With both Roberts and Kennedy sounding like swing votes on this one, I'm cautiously optimistic.

[Cory]

This ruling is so much more important than the gay marriage one.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

The Republicans are in a possible damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't situation.

[jaichind]

The GOP is better off if the SCOUS just upholds the current administration interpretation of the law and still keep the issue instead of having to deal with the fallout if the subsidies are overturned in all those states.  In fact ideally the ruling is that the administration could interprets the law as it wishes so if the GOP were to win in 2016 then they can change the interpretation to what fits the GOP.   

[7,052,770]

Ideally the Court would use the Chevron precedent to declare that the law is vague on whether Federal Exchange states can have subsidies are not, and it is up to the executive branch to decide.

That way, the subsidies stay under Obama and it becomes a huge issue in 2016. Clearly the Republican base will demand that the 2016 nominee promise to take away the subsidies (ironic, I know, as they would be cutting away a huge benefit for their states but keeping it for the liberal states), while swing voters, and most voters in general, would be demanding that the subsidies remain.

If the GOP nominee caves to the base and this becomes one of the 2 or 3 biggest issues of the campaign, Hillary landslides with huge coattails.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

If the Court strikes the subsidies down, the US is officially not a democracy anymore.

This. The Supreme Court is quickly becoming just as big a joke as Congress is, and striking down subsidies would heat that race up quite a lot. Fortunately, I think everyone else in this thread has the right idea. I don't expect SCOTUS to strike anything down, really.

[jaichind]

Obamacare Tax Subsidies Upheld by Divided U.S. Supreme Court  6-3.  Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy joined the court’s four Democratic appointees in the majority. They said the 2010 Affordable Care Act allows tax credits in all 50 states, not just the 16 that have authorized their own online insurance exchanges.

[user12345]

Not a shocker, but great decision.

[jaichind]

I think the GOP dodged a bullet on this one.  They still, kinda, still gets to keep the Obamacare issue for 2016 although it was already weakening as an issue even in 2014.  But if the decision goes the other way the GOP would be split and the resulting debate might actually become  a series of positive media coverage for Obamacare features.

[jaichind]

I actually saw this coming and loaded up on healthcare ETFs weeks ago when the case was going to the supreme court.  Given the role I have at work I am really not allowed (without massive paperwork) to buy individual stocks which is fine by me since I suck at picking stocks anyway.  For various of other factors in addition to this decision that decision worked out for me (for now.)   It was clear that the market was pricing in this decision last couple of weeks anyway.

[jaichind]

Scalia wrote "We should call this SCOTUScare" in his dissent.  I very much agree with him but I think saving the GOP from having the Obamacare issue being a very strong Dem issue, which is what I suspect Roberts was up to, is more important in my view.

[King]

I look forward to the next ridiculous court case against this law.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yep the people saying this case was just trolling were right all along.

[bedstuy]

I look forward to the next ridiculous court case against this law.

I look forward to the Judge Judy case.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Yeah, this case was utterly ridiculous. It says everything you need to know about the right-wing hackery of this Court when 3 Justices actually have the guts to side with the plaintiff.

[Mr. Illini]

An excellent ruling that will hopefully further tamper the GOP narrative on this law and allow us to fully implement it and move forward

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

An excellent ruling that will hopefully further tamper the GOP narrative on this law and allow us to fully implement [most of] it and move forward

[TDAS04]

Excellent Decision!

[Likely Voter]

I still don't understand why they took the case in the first place. What precedent were they setting ? Typos aren't constitutional issues?

[emailking]

I still don't understand why they took the case in the first place. What precedent were they setting ? Typos aren't constitutional issues?

Wasn't there a circuit discrepancy? Probably just to give finality to the issue.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Everyone dodged a bullet with this one. Good ruling