U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law

The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s health care law in a narrow 5 to 4 decision.

The decision includes the most disputed part of the law: the mandate that virtually all Americans have health insurance or pay a fine. The mandate was upheld under the federal government’s power to levy taxes.

The ruling put some limits on the law’s plan to expand the Medicaid insurance program for the poor, a joint effort of the
federal government and states. It says the U.S. government cannot threaten to withhold a state’s entire Medicaid allotment if it doesn’t participate in the expansion.

Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court’s four liberal justices – Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor – to form the 5-4 majority.

For more on the decision, click HERE.