Led By California AG Xavier Becerra, States Appeal Judge’s Health Law Ruling, Setting Next Stage In Battle That’s On Path To Supreme Court
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled last month that the health law is unconstitutional without the individual mandate penalty. Attorneys general from more than a dozen Democratic states are leading the charge to defend the Affordable Care Act at the next phase in court. Meanwhile, the government reports that about 8.4 million Americans signed up for 2019 coverage.
The Wall Street Journal:
Democratic-Led States Appeal Ruling Invalidating Affordable Care Act
Sixteen states on Thursday appealed a Texas judge’s ruling that invalidated the Affordable Care Act, opening the next phase of legal proceedings over the fate of the Obama-era health-care law. The ACA, which overhauled the nation’s health insurance system in 2010, will remain in effect during the appeals process, which could last a year—or potentially longer if the case lands at the Supreme Court. That timeline also means the health-care law will likely continue to be a major political issue, including in the 2020 presidential campaign. (Kendall and Armour, 1/3)
KQED:
California Leaps To Obamacare's Defense In Fight Pitting Blue States Against Red Ones
Many legal experts, both liberal and conservative, have predicted that the Texas ruling will be overturned by a higher court. (Christopher and Aguilera, 1/3)
Capital Public Radio:
California Leaps To Defense Of Obamacare In Fight That Pits Blue States Against Red Ones
Last month, Becerra and this same blue coalition of lawmakers requested that the Texas court’s decision be suspended while the legal challenge makes its way through the court system. That process takes another step today as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals must now decide whether to take up the challenge. “We are going to take it wherever we need to take it,” said Becerra. (Christopher and Aguilera, 1/3)
The Associated Press:
As Health Law Case Goes To Appeals Court, Sign-Ups Steady
Democratic attorneys general on Thursday appealed a federal court ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, as new enrollment numbers underscored the staying power of the Obama-era law. The government reported that about 8.4 million Americans have signed up this year under the law, reflecting steady demand for its subsidized health insurance. President Donald Trump still disdains "Obamacare," but he failed to repeal it after promising a better plan in its place. (1/3)
The Washington Post:
House Democrats Vote To Defend ACA In Court — And Jam Republicans
House Democrats used their new majority on Thursday to squeeze Republicans on health care, taking the first step to intervene in a court case in which a Texas judge has ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. That move will be followed by a vote next week designed to force GOP lawmakers into a political corner: agree to defend a law many members have spent years reviling or appear to oppose popular ACA protections for millions of Americans with preexisting medical conditions that many have pledged to uphold. (Goldstein, 1/3)
Politico:
Democrats Won The House On Obamacare. Here’s How They Plan To Defend It.
“Many [Republicans], in a very inauthentic way, in my mind, indicated that they were prepared to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions," said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. "Now we’re going to give them an opportunity to do so.” Those votes are just opening salvos from House Democrats, who also plan to go after the Trump administration policies that they say have purposefully undermined Obamacare by depressing enrollment, cutting subsidies, promoting skimpy alternative health coverage, and even having the Department of Justice take the unusual move of supporting key elements of a lawsuit against the federal health law. (Cancryn and Ollstein, 1/4)