Wisconsin Ag Connection - State GOP Reps Still Aim to Overturn Obamacare, Dems Pleased with Ruling

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State GOP Reps Still Aim to Overturn Obamacare, Dems Pleased with Ruling
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 06/29/2012

Thursday's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court did very little to change people's opinions on the Affordable Care Act. Within hours of the court's decision to uphold the 2010 health care reform efforts, several Republican members of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation released statements vowing to repeal the package if their party takes control of the Senate and White House in the November election.

Rep. Reid Ribble, who is the state's lone member of the House Ag Committee, said he was disappointed with the decision because he believes the law 'ultimately will do more harm than good' by making healthcare even more 'costly and dysfunctional.'

"I have repeatedly said that we need to fix the systemic problems in our healthcare system, but I have also been outspoken that this law was the wrong way to do it," Ribble said. "Although the Supreme Court upheld the law's constitutionality, it doesn't mean that Congress should give up trying to improve our nation's healthcare system."

He says it's important that both parties step up to the plate and continue to work on legislation that will lower costs, strengthen the patient-doctor relationship and protect access to quality care.

Paul Ryan of Janesville, who is rumored to have been vetted as Mitt Romney's vice presidential running mate, said that the federal mandate to purchase government-approved health insurance imposes a tax on the American people.

"The federal government is tasked with protecting our cherished liberties--not infringing upon them with mandates and intrusions into our lives," Ryan said. "Today's ruling affirms another broken promise by President Obama, who misled the American people in selling the law by insisting that the federal mandate was not a tax."

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson also issued a statement saying he would fight to end the program. And until that happens, Governor Scott Walker said will not take any action to implement the program, saying he's hopefully that the law will be overturned before the state needs to make any necessary changes.

"I am hopeful that political changes in Washington D.C. later this year ultimately end the implementation of this law at the federal level," Walker noted. "If there is no political remedy from Washington and the law moves forward, it would require the majority of people in Wisconsin to pay more money for less healthcare. Additionally, it would increase the size and cost of government, decrease the quality of healthcare and, in our state, reduce access for those truly in need of assistance."

Meanwhile, Democrats praised the ruling. Senator Herb Kohl said he believes the Supreme Court made the right decision, but said much more work has to be done in controlling health care costs.

"The Affordable Care Act brings us closer to providing health care to all Americans at a cost we can afford. Under the bill, nearly 60,000 Wisconsin seniors on Medicare have already saved almost $38 million in prescription drug costs, more than 43,000 of our state's young adults have gained health insurance coverage, more than 400,000 women now have access to preventive cancer screenings and no one can be denied coverage for a preexisting condition," he said.

Congresswoman and Senate Candidate Tammy Baldwin agreed, saying now is the time to come together and make it work.

"I disagree with those who want to rip up the decision of an independent court and start over," Baldwin said. "I am committed to continuing my work across party lines to make reform work and if there are bipartisan solutions that strengthen reform, we should work together to move them forward."

The Wisconsin Farmers Union has sided with Democrats in its support for the health care law. WFU President Darin Von Ruden said the court's decision is 'a huge step in the right direction' for better enabling family farmers and rural communities' access to accessible, affordable health care.

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