Members of the Florida delegation continued to divide along party lines on Thursday afternoon over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in King v. Burwell.
In a 6-3 decision on Thursday, the court ruled in favor of tax subsidies set up by President Barack Obama’s federal health-care law. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy sided with the court liberals on the 6-3 decision. The challenge to Obama’s law specifically focused on whether health insurance tax credits can be run at both the federal and state levels. The plaintiffs insisted only state exchanges can promote the tax credits.
Republicans opposed the decision and continued to call for repealing the law. U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2016, tore into the decision as “interpretive gymnastics” and doubled down on his support of repealing the law.
“The Supreme Court's interpretive gymnastics means that millions of Americans will continue to be burdened with increased premiums, high deductibles, and fewer hours, or else face stiff tax penalties,” said DeSantis. "We must repeal Obamacare and replace it with patient-centered solutions that actually make health insurance more affordable, promote small-business expansion and job growth, and relieve bureaucratic burdens on doctors and patients.”
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., insisted the law was “fundamentally broken ... and has been since day one.” Crenshaw insisted Republicans would be able to craft a better solution.
“Floridians and all Americans should know that Republicans will continue to build a bridge for them to cross over its turbulent waters to safe shores once and for all,” Crenshaw said on Thursday afternoon. “Our work is centered on positive health care policy that puts the doctor-patient relationship first, provides more choices, greater flexibility, and brings in new competition to help drive costs down. I will not rest until we achieve those goals for my district, my state, and the entire nation.”
While saying he was “disappointed” with the decision, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., insisted Republicans already had a better option ready.
“I believe everyone should have some semblance of health-care coverage, but Obamacare is not the right answer,” Yoho said. “Obamacare, which was rammed through Congress without any bipartisan dialog on how best to provide health-care coverage for all Americans, is bad for patients, families, and our economy. It is a devastating law in terms of stifling innovation, creating barriers for job creation; it doesn’t address defensive medicine, and puts the government between you and your doctor. My focus remains steadfast; this law must be removed from the books.”
Yoho showcased his support for the “Empowering Patients First Act” from U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. Besides repealing Obama’s law, Price’s bill contains a universal tax credit for Americans who opt for health insurance based on age while expanding Medicaid options. Price has pushed his bill in recent years, bringing it back again in May.
Yoho was one of more than 75 co-sponsors backing Price’s bill. Other co-sponsors from Florida include Republican U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan, Jeff Miller and Dan Webster. “I will continue to support the Empowering Patients First Act, the Republican alternative that repeals and replaces Obamacare with a patient-centered form of health care,” Yoho said on Thursday. “Putting doctors and patients in charge of important health-care decisions -– not Washington, D.C. -– is my goal and my priority going forward.”
Florida Democrats continued to defend the decision. U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch noted the number of Americans who could have lost their health care had the decision gone the other way.
“More than 1.3 million Floridians and nearly 7 million Americans nationwide can breathe a sigh of relief today, for the Supreme Court has ruled they can keep the federal tax credits that keep their health insurance premiums affordable,” Deutch said on Thursday afternoon. “Today’s simple but historic ruling in King v. Burwell upholds the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act for a second time. As Chief Justice Roberts explains his opinion for the majority, Congress passed health-care reform in 2010 to improve our state health insurance markets, not destroy them. In order to make lifesaving health coverage affordable for all Americans, tax credits must be available to all eligible taxpayers nationwide, no matter the state they reside.
“Five years in, the Affordable Care Act has helped more than 16 million Americans gain coverage and drive our nation’s uninsured rate down to historic lows,” Deutch added before turning his focus to the GOP at the national and state levels. “Having now failed in the Supreme Court twice, it is time for Republicans to recognize that this law is here to stay. In Tallahassee, that means Gov. Rick Scott working in a bipartisan way to expand Medicaid and ensure that 800,000 low-income Floridians can see a doctor if they get sick. And in Washington, that means Republicans working with Democrats not to dismantle this law, but to improve its shortcomings and make our health-care system more sustainable for the American people.”
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., cheered the court, insisting it had “upheld the validity of health tax credits for our hard-working neighbors who purchase health coverage through the federally run marketplaces -– like in Florida”
“This decision will ensure Floridians and working families across the country continue to have access to affordable coverage options,” Castor said. “The Republican-led lawsuit sought to unravel the Affordable Care Act as part of the GOP’s reckless obsession to block health-care reform at every turn at the expense of millions of families seeking quality health-care plans and financial security.
“Today’s ruling is especially welcome news in Florida where health tax credits for 1.3 million Floridians were at risk,” Castor added before jabbing Scott. “Floridians have already been subjected to Gov. Rick Scott’s political obstruction and scare tactics which are contrary to the best interests of our citizens and businesses. I have heard concerns from mothers, students and others who have been on the brink of losing the peace of mind and financial security afforded by health-care coverage.
“The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land -- it has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in two major cases since the legislation was passed in 2010 and has withstood reckless and wasteful attempts by Republicans in Congress to repeal and weaken its provisions," Castor said in conclusion. “I urge federal and state leaders to come together to sustain health-care reform’s progress, which has drastically increased the number of insured individuals and families, implemented numerous consumer protections to put patients before the profits of health insurance companies and saved seniors money on their prescription drugs.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
