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| Obama healthcare law faces key Supreme Court test | Obama healthcare law faces key Supreme Court test |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The bitterly disputed provision at the heart of US President Barack Obama's healthcare law is going under the microscope at the Supreme Court. | The bitterly disputed provision at the heart of US President Barack Obama's healthcare law is going under the microscope at the Supreme Court. |
| The individual mandate requires all eligible Americans to purchase health insurance or face a fine. | The individual mandate requires all eligible Americans to purchase health insurance or face a fine. |
| Backers of the law see the mandate as crucial for reducing the numbers living without health insurance, but critics say it is a breach of civil liberties. | Backers of the law see the mandate as crucial for reducing the numbers living without health insurance, but critics say it is a breach of civil liberties. |
| The Supreme Court is hearing three days of argument on the 2010 healthcare law. | The Supreme Court is hearing three days of argument on the 2010 healthcare law. |
| A ruling on the politically explosive issue is expected this summer, right in the thick of the campaign for November's presidential and congressional elections. | A ruling on the politically explosive issue is expected this summer, right in the thick of the campaign for November's presidential and congressional elections. |
| Regulating commerce | Regulating commerce |
| On Monday, the nine justices briefly considered whether an obscure tax law should compel them to postpone tackling the case until after the main provisions of the act come into effect in two years' time. | On Monday, the nine justices briefly considered whether an obscure tax law should compel them to postpone tackling the case until after the main provisions of the act come into effect in two years' time. |
| Analysts say Tuesday's two-hour hearing will get to the crux of the whole legal challenge. | Analysts say Tuesday's two-hour hearing will get to the crux of the whole legal challenge. |
| Twenty-six states say the individual mandate within the law is a flagrant example of government over-reach that violates the principles of freedom and liberty enshrined in the US constitution. | Twenty-six states say the individual mandate within the law is a flagrant example of government over-reach that violates the principles of freedom and liberty enshrined in the US constitution. |
| They say that if Congress can make citizens buy health insurance, it could also force consumers to eat broccoli and buy gym membership or American-made cars. | They say that if Congress can make citizens buy health insurance, it could also force consumers to eat broccoli and buy gym membership or American-made cars. |
| However, the Obama administration says Americans without health insurance simply push their unpaid medical bills upon taxpayers, who are forced to subsidise emergency room visits. | |
| The US government insists Congress has the right to require health coverage under the powers vested in it by the US constitution to regulate "interstate commerce". | The US government insists Congress has the right to require health coverage under the powers vested in it by the US constitution to regulate "interstate commerce". |
| 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. |
| The administration estimates it will bring 32 million Americans into the healthcare system and reduce the cost on those who already buy insurance. | The administration estimates it will bring 32 million Americans into the healthcare system and reduce the cost on those who already buy insurance. |
| 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. |
| The act's insurance mandate does not begin until 2014, and those who flout it would not face a penalty until the following year. | The act's insurance mandate does not begin until 2014, and those who flout it would not face a penalty until the following year. |
| On Wednesday, the final day of the case, two questions will be considered. | On Wednesday, the final day of the case, two questions will be considered. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 all vowed to repeal it if elected. | 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 all vowed to repeal it if elected. |
| Mitt Romney, who is the front-runner to be this year's Republican presidential candidate, called the law a "disaster", despite being credited by the White House with pioneering the individual mandate concept when governor of Massachusetts. | Mitt Romney, who is the front-runner to be this year's Republican presidential candidate, called the law a "disaster", despite being credited by the White House with pioneering the individual mandate concept when governor of Massachusetts. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The court's proceedings are not televised, but daily audio recordings and transcripts are being made available. | The court's proceedings are not televised, but daily audio recordings and transcripts are being made available. |
Who's uninsured? Health insurance rates across the US | Who's uninsured? Health insurance rates across the US |