LIVE UPDATES: Supreme Court's Ruling on Health Care Law
Follow this post throughout the day as we bring you live updates and analysis of the Supreme Court's health care ruling.
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3:52p ET: Ed Henry just detailed how President Obama learned of the health care ruling, and how he initially believed that the law had been struck down. Read more in Henry’s blog.
2:42p ET: Romney's press secretary tweets about skyrocketing donations following the health care announcement:
$1.5 million, 13,500+ donations for #FullRepeal #Mitt2012
— Andrea Saul (@andreamsaul) June 28, 2012
2:25p ET: Check out the top reaction from Twitter!
Fmr. AG Mukasey on SCOTUS ruling: If Pres.Obama thinks the #SCOTUS just gave him a cigar, he’d better be careful – it’s an exploding one.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) June 28, 2012
1:49p ET: Mike Carvin, one of the two main lawyers who argued against the health care law in front of the Supreme Court, joined America Live and detailed what the ruling will mean for small businesses. Watch the interview here.
1:43p ET: Just moments ago, John Boehner gave reaction to today's ruling, saying that he and fellow Republicans would work with "a" president willing to listen to the American people. Watch the video.
We need to protect Americans’ access to care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost j.mp/LFJTni #fullrepeal
— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) June 28, 2012
1:13p ET: Our Fox News cameras are all over the action at the Supreme Court today -- check out this awesome timeline of photos from this morning's media frenzy.
12:45p ET: On Fox News Channel moments ago, Sen. Lindsey Graham said, in summation, that the punditocracy is totally missing the effects of this ruling. The decision points out the "disingenuousness" of the Democratic leadership. The law never would have passed if the individual mandate was presented as a tax. The Republican plan was not to fix health care by taxing the American people by hundreds of millions of dollars. He also said this will turn out to be a great victory for Republicans.
12:30p ET: President Obama just spoke on the Supreme Court ruling, saying, "Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country, whose lives will be more secure because of this law and the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it." Watch the video and read the transcript.
11:54a ET: Mitt Romney says he will act to repeal ObamaCare and asked the American people to join him. "If you want a course the founders envisioned, join me in my mission." Here's video of his remarks. Plus, read the full transcript.
11:52a ET: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says there will be a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act on July 9. Read his statement here.
11:49a ET: Find out how much you'll have to pay in taxes in light of the health care ruling (by 2016, the penalty is already over $1,000!). Click here.
11:40a ET:
Obamacare Lives! colm.es/OCWNUb #p2
— Alan Colmes (@AlanColmes) June 28, 2012
11:38a ET:
Now that we know #Obamacare is indeed a #jobkilling #Tax we should move to #RepealObamacare as soon as possible. #letsvote #tcot #sayfie
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 28, 2012
11:36a ET:
A sad day for America as Congress has now been granted infinite taxation power...tinyurl.com/7jgvx6f
— Allen West (@AllenWest) June 28, 2012
11:32a ET:
If u are heartbroken over #SCOTUS decision on Obamacare, try remembering the mandate was a Republican idea in the first place. Feel better?
— Jehmu Greene (@jehmu) June 28, 2012
11:30a ET:
SC declares that Congress and the Prez can force upon the American people anything they want and call it a tax buff.ly/QrZ29W
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 28, 2012
11:29a ET: In discussing the Supreme Court’s responsibility in handling the health care law, Chief Justice John Roberts said, “It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.” Read more.
11:25a ET: A senior campaign official has confirmed that GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney will speak at 11:45a ET with his reaction to today's ruling.
11:21a ET: We want to know YOUR reaction to the health care law ruling -- take our poll:
11:12a ET: We're hearing that President Obama will speak on the ruling at 12:15p ET. Tune in to Fox News Channel.
11:05a ET:
Obama lied to the American people. Again. He said it wasn't a tax. Obama lies; freedom dies.
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) June 28, 2012
11:04a ET:
We want to know... do you agree with the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the individual mandate as a tax? Tell us at foxnews.com/shep
— Fox News/Shep Staff (@Team_Shep) June 28, 2012
11:03a ET:
After SCOTUS decision (ACA lives) the sprinklers went off soaking TV crews. Meaning on top of everything, its also a bad hair day
— Steve Doocy (@sdoocy) June 28, 2012
11:02a ET: Speaker of the House John Boehner and NJ Governor Chris Christie have both released statements on the Supreme Court’s health care decision.
10:58a ET: Here it is folks - read the actual ruling by the Supreme Court. Click here - we've got the text.
10:53am ET: Michele Bachmann released a statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling on health care. It reads in part, “Obamacare represents the largest expansion of entitlement spending and a playground of left-wing social engineering in our country’s history and must be stopped.”
10:52a ET: Senator Marco Rubio: “What’s important to remember is that what the Court rules on is whether something is constitutional or not, not whether it’s a good idea.” Read his full reaction here.
10:51a ET:
Senate Majority Senate Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is on the floor now on #healthcare #SCOTUS
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) June 28, 2012
10:49a ET:
NO!SCOTUS sprinklers just came on - soaking tons of audio/tv equipment - several crew guys and lots of cables
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) June 28, 2012
10:47a ET:
BHO. How are you going to tax the middle class.. for the uninsured (and likely non-tax payers)? MORE REDISTRIBUTION from the middle, sir!
— ericbolling (@ericbolling) June 28, 2012
10:45a ET:
Big win for Obama, but big win for Romney also - this is going to ignite the Right! #SCOTUS #Healthcare
— gretchen hamel (@DCgretchen) June 28, 2012
10:43a ET:In a 2009 ABC News interview, President Obama rejected the notion that the individual mandate was a tax. When asked by George Stephanopoulos, “But you reject that it’s a tax increase?”, the president said, “I absolutely reject that notion.” Read the partial transcript.
10:42a ET: The dissenting opinion by Justices Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas and Alito reads in part: “The Act before us here exceeds federal power both in mandating the purchase of health insurance and in denying nonconsenting States all Medicaid funding. These parts of the Act are central to its design and operation, and all the Act’s other provisions would not have been enacted without them. In our view it must follow that the entire statute is inoperative.”
10:38a ET: In Chief Justice Roberts opinion, he writes: “In this case, however, it is reasonable to construe what Congress has done as increasing taxes on those who have a certain amount of income, but choose to go without health insurance. Such legislation is within Congress’s power to tax.” Read more here.
10:35a ET: “The Health Care ruling at the Supreme Court was one of those historic moments where you remember where you were when you heard the news. I was on Capitol Hill awaiting Congressional reaction to one of the most anticipated moments at the High Court in many years.”
-Mike Emanuel, Fox News Chief Congressional Correspondent
10:32a ET: "While this is a victory for the president and Democrats, this also means that he will have to spend the next 19 weeks defending a law disapproved of by most voters. This ruling will also intensify that opposition."
-Chris Stirewalt, Fox News Digital Politics Editor
10:31a ET: “A surprising vote by Chief Justice Roberts, a Bush appointee, that saved the Affordable Care Act. It was upheld under the grounds of Congress's ability to tax that it wasn't sold on.”
-Kimberly Guilfoyle, Fox News Channel Host
10:28a ET: According to a senior administration official, President Barack Obama will come out in the next hour or two to issue a statement; the official said the indication was that the reaction would "obviously" be very positive.
10:24a ET: From one of our producers at the scene in our nation's capitol, here is some color to give you an idea of what's going on outside the Supreme Court following the health care decision:
Protesters at SCOTUS chanting "Strike it down! Strike it down!"; Woman has reportedly collapsed in the protest area immediately across First Street from the Court by the Capitol Visitor's Center and is being attended to by aides from the Office of the Attending Physician; Large banner featuring picture of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) being waived, reading, "The dream shall never die." Other sign reads "Public Option Now."; Protesters in front of Court now chanting "We will not comply! We will not comply!"; One woman shouts "We will not comply with this unconstitutional tax, so you may as well come get me now!"
10:23a ET: The Supreme Court lets the Affordable Care Act stand, including the individual mandate provision, but strikes down Medicaid expansion.
10:15a ET: We're learning that the bottom line in this ruling seems to be that the individual mandate is okay under the taxing power of the government, but is not okay under the commerce clause or necessary and proper clauses. Chief Justice John Roberts was joined in his decision by Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan. Dissenting Justices include Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas and Alito.
10:12a ET: It has just been reported that the Medicaid provision in the health care law is limited but not invalidated and the mandate is said to be constitutional. Chief Justice Roberts joined the four left-leaning justices who voted to uphold that decision.
10:10a ET: Megyn Kelly just reported that as this evolves, the individual mandate will actually survive as a tax. Stay tuned -- we're still awaiting confirmation and clarification.
10:07a ET: Supreme Court finds individual mandate unconstitutional.
9:55a ET: Fox News Digital Politics Editor Chris Stirewalt outlined the three potential scenarios for the Supreme Court’s ruling, including that the law is upheld in full, that it is struck down in full, and that the individual mandate is struck down. Read his full analysis here.
9:54a ET: Think you've seen what a "legal maze" looks like? Think again. Check out this great infographic from the National Journal that does a great job illustrating the ins and outs.
9:45a ET: Waiting for the health care ruling? Us too. We found these "12 Most Common False Claims" made about the health care law and wanted to share with you. Below are a few to get you started, but you can check all of them out here:
