In a rare move, a Republican governor said the Supreme Court should uphold Obamacare against a major legal challenge that threatens to unravel the law by wiping out federal exchange subsidies in nearly three-dozen states.
Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said that although he opposes Obamacare, a defeat for the law in court would cause “a lot of turmoil” and leave states like his “scrambling,” according to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
“If on June 30, if that’s when the case comes down, and they say no more subsidies for federal exchanges … it is going to cause a lot of turmoil,” he said at a press conference, as quoted by the paper. “Not just for the state, and for those people, but for the private sector as well.”
Mead added: “We will see what the decision is, and if the Supreme Court upholds the federal government’s position, that is one thing. If they don’t, I think we will be one of many, many states that will be scrambling, trying find an answer and seeing whether Congress can provide the statutory fix that would be needed.”
Some Republican policy aides privately worry about the implications of such a ruling, given the enormous difficulty of passing a “fix” through Congress. But publicly Republicans overwhelmingly say the lawsuit should succeed. A decision in the case, King v. Burwell, is expected by the end of June.
Antonin Scalia has confidence that this Congress will do the right thing, and that’s good enough for me.
All of a sudden the dogs are beginning to wonder what the hell will they do if they actually catch that car.
With all due respect to the Governor, he could solve the problem for the people of Wyoming by simply asking Secretary Burwell to send the code and enrollment list for the Wyoming exchange on the federal web site and placing that on the state’s web site. That would involve no significant cost to the state. I doubt it would even require legislative action; adding a section to the state web site ought to be within the powers of governors, since state web sites are constantly updated. Every other governor could do the same. Problem solved.
If you are concerned, set up a state exchange. Problem solved.
Repubs are out to destroy everything that helps the American people. Why old white farts support them can only mean they vote their hate. I just don’t get them. Besides wanting to deny Americans health insurance they can afford, repubs are now talking about cutting Medicare and food stamps. Okay old white farts, is this what you voted for? I really need to know because I just don’t get old white farts.