Today is a pivotal day for the Affordable Care Act as the Supreme Court heard arguments, backed by the Trump administration’s, to strike down the law. VOX reports, “At least five members of the Supreme Court appeared likely to reject the latest attempt to convince the justices to repeal Obamacare.” One of the justices who may side with the liberals on this may surprise some people, it’s Trump appointee Brett Kavanaugh. The Washington Post says:
Two key members of the court — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh — said that Congress’s decision in 2017 to zero-out the penalty for not buying health insurance did not indicate a desire to kill the entire law.
“I tend to agree with you this a very straightforward case for severability under our precedents, meaning that we would excise the mandate and leave the rest of the act in place,” Kavanaugh said to a lawyer defending the law.
Unfortunately we won’t know what the Supreme Court actually decides for months. Their ruling isn’t expected until Spring 2021.
We will hear reaction though today from President-elect Biden. He is expected to speak this afternoon about Trump’s effort to over the ACA.