Responses from California Politicians are starting to roll in.
Here at State of Health we made wordles out of the statements from the Democrats and the Republicans. Can you match the word cloud to the party?
A hint: reading through the statements, themes from the Democrats: "great day," "reaffirms what is right," "benefits millions." Themes from the Republicans: "great harm," "repeal," "take back the White House." The Sacramento Bee has a wide round up. Here's a sampling:
Democratic U.S. Sen Barbara Boxer
The decision is great news for the millions of Californians who have already seen the benefits of this law - including the six million who now have access to free preventive health services, 355,000 young adults who now have coverage on their parents' health plans and 320,000 seniors who have received help in paying for their prescription drugs. ... We will continue to fight Republican efforts to repeal these important health benefits while we work to make sure every American has access to quality, affordable health care.
Democratic U.S. Sen Dianne Feinstein
This is an historic day. The Supreme Court today upheld the health care reform law passed by Congress in 2010, meaning Californians can be confident that access to affordable health insurance is finally a reality. ...
I realize that passage of health care reform was extremely controversial. But we cannot forget that insuring fellow Americans and driving down the exploding cost of health care spending in this country is a national emergency. Even with this favorable decision from the court, our work reforming the insurance market and expanding access to health care continues.
Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, D-Los Angeles
Today's ruling by the Supreme Court is a victory for all Californians. The Court's decision to uphold the constitutionality of the landmark Affordable Care Act will ensure that the President's efforts expand access to affordable, quality health care for individuals regardless of age, income, or pre-existing conditions will continue moving forward.
As the author of legislation establishing California's Health Care Exchange, I am committed to continuing our work to reform California's healthcare system to ensure that millions of Californians can get coverage that is comprehensive and affordable and doesn't discriminate based on pre-existing conditions.
President Obama and Congressional Democrats showed great leadership in enacting the Affordable Care Act and today's decision reinforces that leadership. California has been the national leader on implementing federal healthcare reform, and today's decision affirming the wisdom and constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act means we will continue to move full-speed ahead.
Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Orange County
With today's ruling by the highest court in the land behind us, it's time to move forward, roll up our sleeves, and work together to get our economy back on track and create jobs. I hope my Republican colleagues in Congress will join me in this effort, rather than focusing on new attempts to try to strip Americans of their health care rights.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista
The Supreme Court has ruled to uphold the President's Obamacare. Despite being viewed as Constitutional by a narrow majority, this law will do great harm to our country by imposing new taxes, burying job creators in new red tape and saddling future generations with debt they can't afford.
In selling Obamacare, Congressional Democrats and President Obama assured the American people that it was not a tax. Today, the Supreme Court ruled it was, in fact, a tax. This tax was imposed on the American people amidst an extended recession and is one of the many reasons our economy remains stagnant under President Obama's leadership.
To date, the Republican-led House of Representatives has voted 30 times to repeal, dismantle and defund Obamacare--and we will continue our efforts to repeal this law and replace it with health care reform that enacts needed reforms without imposing costs that will be paid by subsequent generations.
"In the days ahead, I will work with my colleagues to achieve real solutions to America's health care challenges that do not infringe on doctor patient relationships, impose unpopular mandates, and do not add to the nation's already significant debt."
Elizabeth Emken, Republican U.S. Senate nominee
The high court's decision makes it crystal clear that the only way to ensure that Americans repeal this dishonest attempt at health care reform is to take back the White House and the U.S. Senate this November.
Democrats like Dianne Feinstein lied about the cost of Obamacare, then stole from Medicare to justify the initial price tag. Now they are attempting to steal from core institutional programs at the Centers for Disease Control that support programs for the disabled to cover up the ballooning cost. That's not just shady politics, it's just plain wrong. And now the Supreme Court ruling has brought Obamacare's hidden taxes to the light of day.
Obamacare will continue to have a negative impact on job creation and hiring, and businesses will be forced to continue to grapple with all of the uncertainty and costs the law creates. The simple truth is that businesses across the nation are not hiring as a result of this administration's mismanagement of health care reform.
Only with new leadership in Washington can we expand access and lower costs through competition and choice while keeping in mind our responsibility to care for the truly vulnerable without raising taxes or increasing debt. I will vote to repeal the Obamacare tax dragging down our economy and hurting families. Dianne Feinstein won't. It's a simple choice.