Texas judge lets Obamacare stand while court challenge continues

[riversedge]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by DonViejo (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: politico









12/30/2018 07:09 PM EST


The federal judge in Texas who ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional said today that the law can stand while his judgment is under appeal.

In his order issuing a stay and final partial judgment in the controversial case, U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor reiterated that he believes the entire ACA cannot stand without its individual mandate penalty, which Congress zeroed out last year. O'Connor argued that appellate judges will agree with his judgment, but said it should not take effect while the case is being appealed. “[M]any everyday Americans would otherwise face great uncertainty,” he wrote.

The judge's order means that Obamacare will likely remain the law of the land for at least another year. Depending on how the appeals proceed, it also tees up the possibility of a Supreme Court ruling on the case in 2020, during the presidential campaign.

Public health groups, Democrats and even some Republicans had warned of catastrophic cuts in health coverage if O'Connor's Dec. 14 ruling to strike down the entire ACA had been allowed to take immediate effect. Many health policies proposed by the Trump administration, including efforts to lower drug prices and reshape hospital payment, also depend on provisions of the law.

Seventeen states defending the ACA — led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra — had asked O’Connor to clarify the ramifications of his ruling so they would be able to file an immediate appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/30/obamacare-case-on-hold-texas-judge-1077175

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I am so thankful to these Attorney Generals





U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor also further detailed why he sided with conservative states seeking to strike down the Affordable Care Act. | Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo

[Bilegurken]

1. As a person who sees a silver lining in this dark cloud

I think it is a plus for the dems to have the republicans STILL talking about healthcare and how they want to strip American citizens of pre-existing condition protections. That means we can drag them over the issue for another 2 years. I don't think the idiot judges initial ruling will survive appeal. But this makes for a good opportunity for the dems to continue flogging the GOP on the issue and advocating medicare for all.

[DonViejo]

2. Locking...

Over 12 hours old; published 12/30/2018 07:09 PM EST; posted on the LBN Forum Dec 31, 2018, 09:12 AM