In Virginia's Favor

[VBshooter]

Virginia judge rules health care reform law unconstitutional

http://hamptonroads.com/node/579933

Well we're a little closer to getting that damn Obamacare nulled out for good... A VA judge has ruled that Congress went overboard and overstepped its authority when they passed the POS...

"Now, a federal court ruling released Monday gives Cuccinelli another distinction: A favorable decision on his argument that Congress overstepped its authority by including a provision in the law requiring the uninsured to obtain coverage or face penalties."

Let;s hope the trend continues in our favor...

[OakRidgeStars]

It's just the first step in what will no doubt be a long battle, but at least we're off to a good start. I've never been prouder to be from Virginia

[VBshooter]

I agree with ya there Jay,, I would love this to become the guiding case for the country !!! We know the SCOTUS will hear this eventually and it's going to be one horrendous victory if we win it..!!!!!!

[TheGodfather]

As so many like to do now, VA can claim "FIRST!".

[gunderwood]

Well we're a little closer to getting that damn Obamacare nulled out for good...

I'm thankful for the ruling, but I'm not so optimistic. Technically the way they wrote the law, if any portion of it is deemed unconstitutional the whole bill is null in void, but when was the last time Congress followed the law? After all, they did have to break a half dozen Senate rules to get the bill passed.

If you are interested the lacking provision, which is a good thing it is lacking, is called a severability clause.

[VBshooter]

Its a long way off and it remains to be seen just how this thing is going to shake out,,Hopefully those presenting the case have all their facts straight and their i's and t's crossed and dotted, In the interim enthusiasm and support for that outcome is a good thing,,,

[zephyp]

The good thing about this is it was a federal judge. The real test will come when it get to the SCOTUS. I suspect that there are some parts of this that will successfully survive legal challenges but not all.

[OakRidgeStars]

The fact that this judge was appointed by George W Bush won't go unnoticed by the Obamacare pimps on the left either. One thing is for sure, this will go all the way to the Supreme's for the final decision.

What could possibly go wrong?

[bobingersoll]

Looks like me and my two sons will just have to struggle along as we have the past few years, with no health insurance. At 52, severely underemployed, I just hope nothing serious comes along that an aspirin won't fix.

Just a guess - you guys have affordable health insurance, right...?

[VBshooter]

No... Mine has gone from 200$ a month to 611$ a month in five years and I have no major medical issues,,,, My wages certainly haven;t kept up with what I pay the crooks at ANthem BC/BS,, So affordable is very debateable , Much more and I won;t be able to afford it and eat at the same time...Food wins every time

[LFS]

I was paying $1k/month for health care until my wife got us on the swanky US Govt employee plan. But that's got nothing to do with ObamaCare, as there is no evidence that it would make good health care insurance affordable. Its not like other government programs work well.

[smc331]

Define affordable.
My health insurance is paid 100% by my employer - OTOH, insurance for my wife is nearly $600.00 monthly (and that's through my employer). Do I "afford" to have it deducted every month? Yes. Do I consider it affordable? Not so much. But this is key: It's my decision - no one else's. It's also my responsibility and no one else's.
I never met a government program that ran efficiently and at or under budget - hence my distrust of any and all boondoggles.
Nationalized healthcare? First class, grade A BOONDOGGLE.

[gunderwood]

The good thing about this is it was a federal judge. The real test will come when it get to the SCOTUS. I suspect that there are some parts of this that will successfully survive legal challenges but not all.

Without a severability clause, if even one section is ruled unconstitutional the whole bill is unconstitutional.

[gunderwood]

Looks like me and my two sons will just have to struggle along as we have the past few years, with no health insurance. At 52, severely underemployed, I just hope nothing serious comes along that an aspirin won't fix.

Just a guess - you guys have affordable health insurance, right...?

My healthcare's--provided through my employer-- coverage went down and costs went way up directly due to Obamacare.

US healthcare is expensive for a lot of reasons, but nationalizing it won't fix any of the problems. One of the biggest is third party payer (i.e. employers). That came about during the great depression because the government in their infinite wisdom decided that they would cap wages. Business found a way to technically abide by the wage cap, but practically get around it for skilled labor. Later they decided to make it tax policy advantageous for employers. Third party systems, employer or government, remove the market mechanisms which promote balance and efficiency.

Obamacare isn't about the people, it is about the government assuming insurance companies risks like they did with the banks previously.

[CowboyT]

And it all started with Hillary when Bill appointed her to "handle" health care in (IIRC) 1993. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. Yes, we need health care to be affordable, but not the way they're doing it!

[Yarddawg]

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=GdSU2GZu8z

Pelosi's comment on the constitutionality of Obamacare.

[zephyp]

Looks like me and my two sons will just have to struggle along as we have the past few years, with no health insurance. At 52, severely underemployed, I just hope nothing serious comes along that an aspirin won't fix.

Just a guess - you guys have affordable health insurance, right...?

The biggest problem I have with obamacare is the mandate. Federal government has no business dictating that anyone buy insurance. Thats a far cry from saying that people should not be able to buy insurance.

Btw, I have affordable insurance because I worked hard to get to where I am.

[bobingersoll]

I know I won't be able to convince anyone here, but it seems that most all agree that the US health care system needs fixing. Problem is, if the government doesn't fix it, or mandate how it should be fixed, the health care providers and insurance companies will skip along, business as usual. Unless the government steps in and does something, I, and people like me, will never have health insurance again. I am just one major illness or injury away from complete financial ruin. My girlfriend is about to be laid off form her job of 34 years. The prospects of her finding a halfway decent job in our area of southwest VA (with unemployment just below 20%) are slim.
I am self employed and my income has been cut in half over the past three years.

I know it goes against the grain of gun owning, self sufficient conservatism, but I hear you guys, and the Republican Congressmen on TV, and Ken Cuccinelli, all say the system needs fixing, but I hear absolutely no ideas on how to fix it, other than to stop any democratic attempt at fixing it.

I don't know what the solution is, and I am not a fan of the government taking over, but surely it is obvious that - left as it is, the insurance companies and health care providers (just like the banks and investment firms and mortgage companies) will keep getting richer and they will do what ever they can to stop the government from sticking its nose in.

zephyp - "Federal government has no business dictating that anyone buy insurance."
I'm no expert, but how is the federal mandate different from the state mandate to buying auto insurance? That's an honest question because I really don't know.

smc331 - "It's my decision - no one else's. It's also my responsibility and no one else's."
I just have to wonder how you feel about the person who can't find work or is to sick to work? Do you have any advice for them? The person who has no health insurance and can't afford to purchase any? What are we supposed to do, go to the emergency room and not pay?

I'm telling you guys, if the government doesn't fix this, it isn't going to get fixed. If the government didn't pass the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, 12 year old children could still be working 72 hour weeks in factories for next to nothing. It is a rare company that will put it's employees first, and it's bottom line, second.

[Kreutz]

I was paying $1k/month for health care until my wife got us on the swanky US Govt employee plan. But that's got nothing to do with ObamaCare, as there is no evidence that it would make good health care insurance affordable. Its not like other government programs work well.

Taxpayer funded health insurance....good enough for you, horrible for everyone else.

Until we have a nationalized healthcare system, I think all government employees should lose all benefits. It will get fixed alot faster when you people have to put up with the crap we do, the wonderful for profit insurance system.

[Kreutz]

I know I won't be able to convince anyone here, but it seems that most all agree that the US health care system needs fixing. Problem is, if the government doesn't fix it, or mandate how it should be fixed, the health care providers and insurance companies will skip along, business as usual.

What are you, a communist?

Unless the government steps in and does something, I, and people like me

Definitely a communist. Concern for others? OK there Chairman Mao.

, will never have health insurance again. I am just one major illness or injury away from complete financial ruin.

Why do you hate America?

I know it goes against the grain of gun owning, self sufficient conservatism, but I hear you guys, and the Republican Congressmen on TV, and Ken Cuccinelli, all say the system needs fixing, but I hear absolutely no ideas on how to fix it, other than to stop any democratic attempt at fixing it.

Hey, those poor Republican Congressmen and Ken have to suffer under the oppressive yoke of a fully funded, coverage-packed taxpayer funded healthcare system, you know, the horrible SOCIALIST system that sucks so bad?

You should be THANKFUL to avoid that mess and be able to participate in the wondrous free market capitalist system!

I don't know what the solution is, and I am not a fan of the government taking over, but surely it is obvious that - left as it is, the insurance companies and health care providers (just like the banks and investment firms and mortgage companies) will keep getting richer and they will do what ever they can to stop the government from sticking its nose in.

Thats capitalisms bounty you America hating fascist!

zephyp - "Federal government has no business dictating that anyone buy insurance."
I'm no expert, but how is the federal mandate different from the state mandate to buying auto insurance? That's an honest question because I really don't know.

It...it just is!

I just have to wonder how you feel about the person who can't find work or is to sick to work? Do you have any advice for them? The person who has no health insurance and can't afford to purchase any? What are we supposed to do, go to the emergency room and not pay?

Theres that, yes. Or barter chickens. Or sell your childrens organs. Whatever.

I'm telling you guys, if the government doesn't fix this, it isn't going to get fixed. If the government didn't pass the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, 12 year old children could still be working 72 hour weeks in factories for next to nothing. It is a rare company that will put it's employees first, and it's bottom line, second.

You know who else passed laws like this AND laws mandating universal health coverage?

You guessed it! NAZIS!