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Omaha Steve

(99,660 posts)
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 01:07 PM Mar 2015

Ex-Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson at heart of court fight over federal health care act




THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
This artist’s rendering shows Michael Carvin, lead attorney for the opponents of the health care law, addressing the justices on Wednesday. If the administration loses, millions of people nationwide could lose health coverage.


http://www.livewellnebraska.com/consumer/ex-nebraska-sen-ben-nelson-at-heart-of-court-fight/article_01f77b88-c287-11e4-8d3f-cfcdb04f2b32.html

Posted: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 9:56 am
By Joseph Morton / World-Herald Bureau

WASHINGTON — It’s been two years since former Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska left Capitol Hill, but his name was invoked yet again Wednesday as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the latest challenge to President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

At the heart of the case is whether a phrase in the law was intended to restrict government subsidies only to health care exchanges established and run by states and not those that are federally run.

Defenders of the law say it would make no sense for Congress to limit subsidies only to state-based exchanges, but those challenging the law have suggested that it was written that way in order to placate Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat.

Millions of people could be affected by the court’s decision.

FULL story at link.

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TheKentuckian

(25,026 posts)
4. Seems the bigger problem is his wanting to make damn sure there would be no national exchange
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 01:21 PM
Mar 2015

The efforts seem to have generated the inconsistencies being pressed here.

 

TheNutcracker

(2,104 posts)
2. Adding this cross post for true constitutional explanation:
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 01:11 PM
Mar 2015
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026316188

Dear SCOTUS: Health reforms intended for all under constitution

LTE in today's Tampa Bay Times.....

I was astounded when reading this editorial on the issue of King vs. Burwell. The sentence quoted by the Times to be the basis for the suit indicated that federal subsidies are provided to low-income people who buy private insurance on an exchange "established by the state".

The dictionary gives the first political definition of "state" as "a politically unified people occupying a definite territory; nation." It is further defined as the "body politic as organized for civil rule and government (distinguished from church)." Additionally, the definition includes "the operations or activities of a central civil government."

The document in question was written as a federal law. It is not a law passed by one or more individual states. The United States is a constitutional union of states, not a loose confederacy. A law of the national government is a law in all the states. The state referenced in the law is the state in the national sense of the word. This difference was thoroughly and thoughtfully worked out by the Founding Fathers. Any decision to the contrary could destroy the very basis of our CONSTITUTION.

Mxxx Axx Hxxxxx
Dunnellon, FL

NoJusticeNoPeace

(5,018 posts)
3. A court observer and expert in this was on my show today and he said it will be 6-3
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 01:16 PM
Mar 2015

to uphold the law as is.

He said Roberts and Kennedy are going to do the right thing and he explained why.

Kennedy expressed serious constitutional concerns if the plaintiffs win based on states rights and Roberts was far too silent throughout the day for someone who would be CHANGING his mind as he would have to do.

Let's hope so

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