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US Supreme Court hears challenge to Obama healthcare law | US Supreme Court hears challenge to Obama healthcare law |
(40 minutes later) | |
The US Supreme Court has finished the first day of a landmark hearing on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform. | The US Supreme Court has finished the first day of a landmark hearing 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. |
The Washington DC court, which holds about 400 people, was packed with lawmakers, senior Obama administration officials and members of the public on Monday. | The Washington DC court, which holds about 400 people, was packed with lawmakers, senior Obama administration officials and members of the public on Monday. |
People had been camping outside the white-marble building since Friday. | People had been camping outside the white-marble building since Friday. |
The broccoli question | The broccoli question |
The nine Supreme Court justices, five of them appointed by Republican presidents and four by Democrats, have allotted six hours of argument - 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 - the longest in decades - for the case. |
Because of the huge interest, the court will release daily audio recordings from the three days of proceedings. | Because of the huge interest, the court will release daily audio recordings from the three days of proceedings. |
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, passed in March 2010, has been the divisive centrepiece of President Obama's term in office. | The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed in March 2010, has been the divisive centrepiece of President Obama's term in office. |
If upheld, the law would forbid insurance companies from denying coverage because of 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 because of 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 focused on whether the judges actually had the power to rule on the case. | |
They heard 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 been collected. | |
The healthcare law's insurance mandate does not begin until 2014, and those who flout the requirement to have insurance would not face 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 face a penalty until the following year. |
On Monday, several judges cast doubt on whether such a fine would constitute a tax - which correspondents saw as an indication that the court would not postpone the case. | |
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 health insurance. | The 26 states led by Florida say the federal government has no power to force individuals to buy health 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. |
A ruling on the intensely partisan issue is expected only several months before November's general election. | |
The US was the only major developed country without a national healthcare system until President Obama's reform. | The US was the only major developed country without a national healthcare system until President Obama's reform. |
href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/poll-47-disapprove-of-health-care-law/?hp" >An opinion poll published on Monday found that 47% of voters disapproved of the healthcare law and 36% were in favour. | |
Republicans seeking to foil President Obama's bid for a second term have vowed to repeal it if elected. | Republicans seeking to foil President Obama's bid for a second term have vowed to repeal it if elected. |
Mitt Rommey, who is the front-runner to be this year's Republican presidential candidate, called the law an "unfolding disaster for the American economy". | Mitt Rommey, who is the front-runner to be this year's Republican presidential candidate, called the law an "unfolding disaster for the American economy". |
His rival, Rick Santorum, appeared outside the court after Monday's hearing to say that "Obamacare" should be the central issue of the forthcoming election campaign. | His rival, Rick Santorum, appeared outside the court after Monday's hearing to say that "Obamacare" should be the central issue of the forthcoming election campaign. |
Who's uninsured? Health insurance rates across the US | Who's uninsured? Health insurance rates across the US |