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| US Supreme Court hears challenge to Obama healthcare law | US Supreme Court hears challenge to Obama healthcare law |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US Supreme Court begins three days of landmark hearings on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform. | The US Supreme Court begins three days of landmark hearings on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform. |
| Twenty-six US states have brought the Republican-led challenge to the administration's 2010 law. | Twenty-six US states have brought the Republican-led challenge to the administration's 2010 law. |
| The act expands health coverage to 32 million Americans, but critics say its requirement that people buy insurance intrudes on civil liberties. | The act expands health coverage to 32 million Americans, but critics say its requirement that people buy insurance intrudes on civil liberties. |
| A ruling is expected by late June - in the thick of the election season. | A ruling is expected by late June - in the thick of the election season. |
| People have been camping outside the court in Washington DC since Friday. | People have been camping outside the court in Washington DC since Friday. |
| The nine Supreme Court justices, five of them appointed by Republican presidents and four by Democrats, have allotted six hours of argument time - the longest in decades - for the case. | The nine Supreme Court justices, five of them appointed by Republican presidents and four by Democrats, have allotted six hours of argument time - the longest in decades - for the case. |
| Because of the huge interest, the court will release daily audio recordings of the proceedings. | Because of the huge interest, the court will release daily audio recordings of the proceedings. |
| The broccoli question | The broccoli question |
| It is one of the most politically explosive cases since the 2000 election wrangle that saw the White House awarded to Republican George W Bush over Democrat Al Gore, or the hearings on the 1974 Watergate tapes that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation. | It is one of the most politically explosive cases since the 2000 election wrangle that saw the White House awarded to Republican George W Bush over Democrat Al Gore, or the hearings on the 1974 Watergate tapes that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation. |
| The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which has become a divisive centrepiece of Barack Obama's term in office, was passed in March 2010. | |
| If upheld, the law would forbid insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions. It would also limit how much they can charge older people. | If upheld, the law would forbid insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions. It would also limit how much they can charge older people. |
| But the most controversial aspect of the law is its core requirement that most people buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. | But the most controversial aspect of the law is its core requirement that most people buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. |
| Monday's hearing is focusing on whether the judges actually have the power to rule on the case. | Monday's hearing is focusing on whether the judges actually have the power to rule on the case. |
| They are hearing 90 minutes of argument about an obscure 19th-century piece of legislation - the 1867 Anti-Injunction Act - which deters legal challenges to any tax law that has not yet taken effect. | They are hearing 90 minutes of argument about an obscure 19th-century piece of legislation - the 1867 Anti-Injunction Act - which deters legal challenges to any tax law that has not yet taken effect. |
| The healthcare law's insurance mandate does not begin until 2014, and those who flout the requirement to have insurance would not have to pay a penalty until the following year. | The healthcare law's insurance mandate does not begin until 2014, and those who flout the requirement to have insurance would not have to pay a penalty until the following year. |
| The justices could decide they are unable to tackle the case, sparing them the task of ruling on such an intensely partisan issue with November's general election looming. | The justices could decide they are unable to tackle the case, sparing them the task of ruling on such an intensely partisan issue with November's general election looming. |
| The most eagerly anticipated day is Tuesday, when the judges will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the individual insurance requirement. | The most eagerly anticipated day is Tuesday, when the judges will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the individual insurance requirement. |
| The 26 states led by Florida say the federal government has no power to force individuals to buy a product such as insurance. | The 26 states led by Florida say the federal government has no power to force individuals to buy a product such as insurance. |
| Critics say that if Congress can require citizens to buy health insurance, they could also force consumers to eat broccoli, and purchase gym membership or buy American-made cars. | Critics say that if Congress can require citizens to buy health insurance, they could also force consumers to eat broccoli, and purchase gym membership or buy American-made cars. |
| However, the Obama administration says that Americans who have no healthcare simply push their unpaid health bills upon taxpayers, who are forced to subsidise emergency room visits. | However, the Obama administration says that Americans who have no healthcare simply push their unpaid health bills upon taxpayers, who are forced to subsidise emergency room visits. |
| On Wednesday, two questions will be heard. | On Wednesday, two questions will be heard. |
| The first is whether, if the individual mandate is declared unconstitutional, the rest of the law can stand or must be struck down in its entirety. | The first is whether, if the individual mandate is declared unconstitutional, the rest of the law can stand or must be struck down in its entirety. |
| The other is whether Congress unfairly burdened states when it expanded eligibility under Medicaid, the medical care programme for poor people. | The other is whether Congress unfairly burdened states when it expanded eligibility under Medicaid, the medical care programme for poor people. |
| Who's uninsured? Health insurance rates across the US |