United States Sen. Deb Fischer says she’s disappointed the Supreme Court held in favor of the federal health insurance law.
“Today’s decision is disappointing and it does not change the fact that this law is hurting millions of Americans,” Fischer tells Nebraska reporters during her weekly conference call.
The court upheld subsidies to those receiving health insurance through the federal exchange, such as the case in Nebraska. Those bringing the lawsuit argued that the law limited subsidies to state exchanges. Approximately 57,000 Nebraskans received subsidies to offset some of the cost of buying health insurance through the federal exchange.
Fischer insists the Affordable Care Act doesn’t need to be fixed. She says it needs to be scrapped.
“I am committed to working with my colleagues to foster policies that will reduce costs and improves care,” Fischer says. “For now, we must focus on ways to scrap this law and replace it with a system that improves patient-centered care.”
Congressman Adrian Smith also expresses disappointment with the Supreme Court ruling.
“Obviously today’s Supreme Court decision ruling in favor of Burwell is disappointing,” Smith tells reporters during a conference call. “I think that following the letter of the law, especially in this situation, is what our system needs. Obviously the court has disagreed. So, we move forward now with a yet broken health care law.”
Smith says debate on the merits of the Affordable Care Act shifts back to Congress.
“Let me also say that it’s not the Supreme Court’s responsibility to just overturn a piece of legislation simply because it’s bad legislation,” according to Smith. “I mean that, obviously, is in the eyes of the beholder. Clearly, what is taking place through Obamacare in harming many, many Americans is a problem.”