Supreme Court Wraps Up Health Care Arguments

Today, three days of unprecedented oral arguments on the multi-state lawsuit challenging the health care law wrapped up.  

On Monday, the justices heard 90 minutes of argument to decide whether the court action is premature – “whether penalties prescribed for those who do not buy health insurance by 2014 amount to taxes under the obscure 1867 Anti-Injunction Act –the law forbidding tax challenges.”  The act states that “no suit for the purpose of restraining the assessment or collection of any tax shall be maintained in any court by any person.” “It was designed to make sure that the flow of tax collection necessary to keep the government running was not disrupted by lawsuits.”

Transcripts of oral argument        Audio recording of oral argument

On Tuesday, the Court heard arguments “about the so-called “individual mandate.”  The argument covered the central issue of whether Congress overstepped its authority by requiring Americans to purchase health insurance starting in 2014 or pay a penalty.

Transcripts of oral argument        Audio recording of oral argument

On Wednesday, The Court heard arguments on the Severability issue and Medicaid issue of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act cases.

Transcripts of oral argument        Audio recording of oral argument

Transcripts of oral argument        Audio recording of oral argument

This has been a historic three days of arguments.  Now, we wait . . .  94 days, 93 days. . .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat