Supreme Court to hear challenge to health-care reform

The United States Supreme Court said today that it will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – the health-care reform law passed by Congress in 2010.

Virginia filed one of the suits that made their way up the federal system with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Gov. Bob McDonnell, both Republicans, leading the charge.

“Whether a federal mandate on every citizen to purchase health insurance violates the U.S. Constitution is a question that ultimately must be decided by the United States Supreme Court.  That is why, nine months ago, Virginia requested that these suits be expedited for resolution by our nation’s highest court.  We are pleased that the Supreme Court has announced they will hear arguments from six of these cases during the current term,” McDonnell said in a statement today.

Dan Pfeiffer, the communications director for President Barack Obama, a Democrat, also welcomes the review by the Supreme Court.

“Earlier this year, the Obama administration asked the Supreme Court to consider legal challenges to the health reform law, and we are pleased the Court has agreed to hear this case,” Pfeiffer said.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 1 million more young Americans have health insurance, women are getting mammograms and preventive services without paying an extra penny out of their own pocket and insurance companies have to spend more of your premiums on health care instead of advertising and bonuses. We know the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and are confident the Supreme Court will agree,” Pfeiffer said.

McDonnell has as much confidence that the high court will find otherwise.

“I have long argued that this is an issue that will have an enormous impact on states, and one that demands finality as soon as possible. Each day that these cases remain unresolved means that states must spend more time and money to prepare for the expensive and burdensome requirements of the health care law, while uncertainty looms over its constitutionality,” McDonnell said.

“I am confident that the court will find that the act does overreach and is unconstitutional. I thank the U.S. Supreme Court for agreeing to hear arguments on the federal health care law during this current term,” McDonnell said.