Local reactions to the Supreme Court’s Health Care ruling

Today, the nation’s highest court ruled that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is constitutional. Here’s reaction from local officials.

June 28, 2012; 11:58 AM • by RVANews staff

Today, the nation’s highest court ruled that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is constitutional. Here’s reaction from local officials:

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

This is a dark day for the American people, the Constitution, and the rule of law. This is a dark day for American liberty.

This (health care) decision goes against the very principle that America has a federal government of limited powers; a principle that the Founding Fathers clearly wrote into the Constitution, the supreme law of the land.

The Constitution was meant to restrict the power of government precisely for the purpose of protecting your liberty and mine from the overreaching hand of the federal government.

Former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate

The Affordable Care Act is an important first step in curbing discriminatory insurance company practices and increasing access to health care, but more needs to be done to bring down costs. Our government, businesses, and citizens cannot continue to spend more than any other nation on health care while getting second-rate results. As senator, I am committed to working with all stakeholders to find additional improvements to the Affordable Care Act that give all Americans affordable access to high quality services.

Gov. Bob McDonnell

Today’s Supreme Court ruling is extremely disappointing for Virginia and for America. The PPACA will create a costly and cumbersome system that will impair our country’s ability to recover from these challenging economic times, infringes on our citizen’s liberties, will harm small businesses, and will impose dramatic unfunded mandates on Virginia and all states. Simply put, this is a blow to freedom. America needs market-based solutions that give patients more choice, not less.

Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3rd District-D)

I am pleased that today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision leaves intact nearly all of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, most importantly the “individual mandate.” This law is a milestone towards expanding affordable health coverage to all Americans, regardless of age, income, or preexisting condition. Young Americans can continue to stay on their parent’s polices until they are twenty-six, seniors will not be pushed back into the ‘donut-hole’, and health insurance companies will not be able to put a lifetime limit on your health coverage.

Former Gov. Mark Warner, current Democratic Senator

I am pleased the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of health reform.

I have always felt the Affordable Care Act was weighted more toward the issue of coverage and not enough toward cost containment.

I look forward to now moving forward in a bipartisan way on how we can further bring down the costs of health care. We must focus the health care system more on outcomes than simply on the volume of services provided.