Following the decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday which upheld the vast majority of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, Shelby County Republican Chairman Freddy Ard offered the following response:
“The Supreme Court of the United States on this day validated what is by far the largest and most burdensome TAX INCREASE in history. It is with grave dismay that I received the news that the Supreme Court has essentially upheld what we have commonly come to know as ObamaCare. While the momentary attention and reaction is directed at the court, and indeed those justices that ruled with the majority opinion, the blame for this unmitigated disaster is squarely on President Obama and those members of Congress – with only an exception all being Democrats – who voted in favor of the bill’s passage in 2010.”
“At a time when the federal government is approaching a deficit of $16 trillion, and in the midst of a continually sinking economy with unemployment sustained at near-catastrophic levels, this ruling confirms an absorption of 1/6 of our nation’s economy. Instead of finding ways to abate the out-of-control spending practices in Washington, Congress gave us Obamacare, the effects of which predominantly will not be felt until 2014. The Supreme Court had the opportunity to dismantle Obamacare entirely by rejecting the constitutionality of the individual mandate, yet failed to do so and instead affirmed the most intrusive reach of federal powers in history. And while the ruling infers that no violation of the constitution is found in ObamaCare, that does not make its provisions sound policy.”
“The effect of this ruling is not merely a fiscal matter. Like most Americans, I am concerned that the very nature, quality, and timely delivery of healthcare services will suffer irreparable harm unless this law is revoked quickly. Consequently, a change in the balance of Congress, specifically in the Senate, is imperative in the 2012 election. Americans can afford nothing less from this election than a Republican super-majority in both houses and a new Republican President Romney."
