The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the nationwide tax subsidies that are a core component of President Barack Obama’s health-care law, rejecting a challenge that had threatened to gut the measure and undercut his legacy.
The 6-3 ruling is the high court’s second in three years to preserve Obamacare in the face of Republican-backed legal attacks. It averts a collapse in state insurance markets and lets millions of Americans keep using federal tax credits designed to make policies affordable.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy joined the court’s four Democratic appointees in the majority. They said the 2010 Affordable Care Act allows tax credits in all 50 states, not just the 16 that have authorized their own online insurance exchanges.
“Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them,” Roberts wrote.
There are five cases remaining on this session's docket, so there is a chance the court could extend the session by a day. I didn't recall this, but stories indicate that this happened with the DOMA ruling. So add in the possibility that the marriage ruling could come as late as Tuesday.
Now on to the marriage ruling, which will come down either Friday or Monday.