NFIB: Obamacare Ruling Limits Freedom, Strengthens Fed

The National Federation of Independent Business, which joined Florida and 25 other states in challenging the constitutionality of the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act released the following statement following Thursdays 5-4 ruling on the act.

Dan Danner, President and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business

While we are certainly disappointed, NFIB respects the decision to uphold the individual mandate by the Supreme Court. Clearly this mandate has now become a tax on all Americans and a broken campaign promise from President Obama not to raise taxes.

We are concerned about the precedent that this will set in Congress ability to mandate other aspects of our lives, but we will move forward from today to continue to fight, harder than ever, for real health-care reform for our membership.

Under PPACA, small-business owners are going to face an onslaught of taxes and mandates, resulting in job loss and closed businesses. We will continue to fight for the repeal of PPACA in the halls of Congress; only with PPACAs full repeal will Congress have the ability to go back to the drawing board to craft real reform that makes reducing costs a number one priority. The power and control of health-care decisions should be in the hands of the consumer, not the government.

Bill Herrle, NFIB/Florida Executive Director

Floridas small-business owners have been fighting this battle alongside the Florida Attorney Generals office from day one, and after months of uncertainty and frustration, the Courts decision is grave disappointment to them.

The increasing costs of health-care are the number one concern for the small-business community, and this flawed law does nothing to address cost. While its devastating to lose this battle, the fight isnt over. NFIB and our members are ready now to engage Congress and pursue a real health-care solution a solution that gives employers and their families access to quality, affordable health care, and doesnt violate the U.S. Constitution.

Karen Harned, Executive Director of NFIBs Small Business Legal Center

This day will go down in history as the day when Americans lost a part of their freedom the freedom to choose what to buy with their money.