Richmond, VA–Federal Judge Roger Vinson of Florida ruled today that the “mandate” provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. However, in a radical departure from the opinion of Virginia Judge Henry Hudson who ruled last month, the Florida decision also ruled that the entire ACA was void because of the finding on the personal responsibility provision. Two other federal courts previously ruled the law and its mandate were permissible. Now the stage is set for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Virginia Organizing, a statewide grassroots organization that has worked on health care reform for three years, issued the following statements about U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling today in a lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act:
“This ruling seeks to return us to an inequitable status quo that leaves consumers out in the cold, tens of millions without coverage, and all of us stripped of the critical protections against the worst insurance abuses. The law is a lifeline that is already saving lives, relieving needless suffering, and protecting consumers in communities across the nation. An increasing majority of Americans recognize its importance to their interests, and oppose efforts to move backwards and overturn or repeal it,” said Jim Lindsay of the Virginia Organizing Health Care Reform Committee. “ The elected officials pursuing this lawsuit should recognize that it is contrary to their constituents’ interests and refocus their resources on protecting consumers rather than undermining them.”
“This is another example of unelected judges running roughshod over the decisions of our elected representatives. Health care is the largest sector of our economy and it is in deep trouble. Congress carefully crafted an approach to the problems that plague our health care system—one that leaves in place our private health care financing system while reforming it so that Americans can purchase insurance coverage, regardless of their health problems. Judge Vinson has thrown out that solution, refusing to pay Congress the deference it is due. This is judicial activism at its worst,” said Professor Tim Jost, Robert Willett Family Professor of Law at the Washington and Lee University Law School and Virginia Organizing Health Care Reform Committee member.
“Congress clearly has the authority to regulate the health insurance market, including protecting consumers from insurance industry abuses and reducing costs for families, seniors and businesses. The best way to protect consumers and control costs is to make sure everyone has health insurance and that there will be no more free riders, and that’s what the Affordable Care Act does,” saidKaren Kallay of the Virginia Organizing Health Care Reform Committee.
Although the Vinson decision was a disappointment for supporters of the health care law, there is hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will uphold the law as they have done with similarly controversial decisions.
From the Think Progress Wonkroom blog:
Lower Courts Struck Down Social Security, Voting Rights Act, Civil Rights Act and Minimum Wage Before SCOTUS Upheld Them
Lower courts routinely strike down landmark legislation before that law is eventually upheld — and there is every reason to believe that the U.S. Supreme Court will do the same here:
Minimum Wage: In United States v. Darby, the Supreme Court upheld a federal minimum wage and overruled a prior decision striking down federal child labor laws. This decision reversed a district judge’s opinion declaring the minimum wage unconstitutional.
Social Security: In Helvering v. Davis, the Supreme Court reversed a court of appeals decision declaring Social Security unconstitutional.
Whites-Only Lunch Counters: In Katzenbach v. McClung, the Supreme Court upheld the federal ban on whites-only lunch counters — reversing a district court’s decision striking down this law.
Voting Rights Act: In Katzenbach v. Morgan, the Supreme Court reversed a district court decision striking down a portion of the Voting Rights Act (the court since stepped back from the reasoning applied in Morgan, but the Voting Rights Act remains good law).
Virginia Organizing is a statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia.
