Governor Walker’s Reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on ObamaCare:

Madison—Today Governor Scott Walker released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on ObamaCare:

I continue to oppose ObamaCare.

One of my first acts as Governor was to authorize Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to add Wisconsin to the federal lawsuit opposing ObamaCare.

Wisconsin will not take any action to implement ObamaCare. I am hopeful that political changes in Washington D.C. later this year ultimately end the implementation of this law at the federal level.

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.

The federal government should not tell individuals and families what to do with healthcare. The alternative is more transparency and a more active role by consumers, so we can truly control costs.
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Wisconsin Hospital Association Statement on Supreme Court Ruling

MADISON (June 28, 2012) ---- While the Supreme Court ruling upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is garnishing much attention, health reform is not new in Wisconsin. Wisconsin hospitals have been quietly transforming health care by focusing on quality improvement and making innovative changes in both the delivery of, and payment for, health care here, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA).

“Health reform is already well underway in Wisconsin, and our journey down this path will continue, and would have continued, regardless of how the Court ruled today,” said WHA President Steve Brenton. “Health care leaders have been reforming care in our state to improve quality, moderate costs, expand access and raise the value of health care in Wisconsin.”

For example, Wisconsin providers are already developing new systems of care that improve quality and reduce cost. Hospitals here are working with insurers to develop new payment models in health care, moving away from volume-driven, unit pricing toward outcomes/total cost of care. In fact, health systems, insurers and physicians are actively involved in the Wisconsin Partnership for Healthcare Payment Reform that is moving away from fee-for-service payments in favor of bundled payments that are tied to outcomes. A focus on performance-based outcomes where payment metrics are tied to outcomes is the better way to go, especially for Wisconsin.

“Our commitment to improving health care quality, access and value continues forward,” Brenton said. “Few other states are as well positioned to succeed, if not thrive, in the emerging reform dynamic—a strength WHA believes can be transformed into a competitive advantage for Wisconsin.”

Since the health reform bill was signed into law in 2010, WHA has been working with a national coalition comprised of health systems, hospital associations and hospitals to work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle in Washington DC to help reform the health care delivery system in a way that rewards states that provide high quality, low cost health care.

“WHA said it five years ago and it is even truer today—improving health care quality and value is health care reform,” according to Brenton.
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Senator Jon Erpenbach on US Supreme Court Codification of Affordable Care Act

“The action of the US Supreme Court codifying the Affordable Care Act is great news for the people of this state and nation. However we find ourselves behind the game in Wisconsin. We need to fulfill the requirements of the law and set up the health care exchanges Governor Walker disabled when he was elected. Now is the time to obey the law of the land and get our health insurance exchanges up and running in Wisconsin. People are waiting. Governor Walker should assemble a working group by the end of the week to get the exchanges back on track and on the road to affordable healthcare for all in Wisconsin.”
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Wisconsin Farmers Union Applauds Supreme Court for Upholding the Affordable Care Act

Chippewa Falls, WI – WFU President Darin Von Ruden issued the following statement today in support of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

“This is a huge step in the right direction for better enabling family farmers and rural communities’ access to accessible, affordable health care. The decision to uphold the individual mandate keeps the Affordable Care Act intact. A law critical to protecting reforms significant to our members and all Americans: support for health care exchange programs for the self-employed who can’t afford expensive care in the individual market, resources for rural health care providers and incentives to physicians serving rural areas, prevents health insurance companies from denying care based on preexisting conditions, and closes the Medicare prescription drug coverage “donut hole.”

“Every American deserves health care that is comprehensive, affordable and accessible, regardless of occupation or geographic area. Wisconsin Farmers Union commends the Supreme Court on its decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This is an important step to bringing necessary health care reform to our farmers, rural communities, and all Americans.”
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Mark Neumann Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on ObamaCare

“Now more than ever it will take a conservative United States Senate to repeal ObamaCare. The Supreme Court’s faulty decision today means we have to elect conservatives to the Senate this fall to end ObamaCare and eliminate the individual mandate.

“I am the only candidate for Senate who has actually taken action against ObamaCare. Back when this was first debated over two years ago I collected over 25,000 petitions opposing ObamaCare. This is not a politically expedient stance for me: this is who I have always been and who I will be in the Senate.

“Today is just another chapter on ObamaCare, but it is not the end of the story. This ends next year when a conservative Senate repeals it.”
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RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Statement on the Supreme Court's Decision on ObamaCare

WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's decision on ObamaCare:

"Today's Supreme Court decision sets the stakes for the November election. Now, the only way to save the country from ObamaCare's budget-busting government takeover of health care is to elect a new president," said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.

"Under President Obama's signature legislation, health care costs continue to skyrocket, and up to 20 million Americans could lose their employer-based coverage. A panel of unelected bureaucrats now has the unprecedented authority to come between elderly patients and their doctors. Meanwhile, the rules and regulations placed on job creators and small businesses make it nearly impossible to hire new workers at a time when Americans desperately need jobs.

"We need market-based solutions that give patients more choice, not less. The answer to rising health care costs is not, and will never be, Big Government.
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Hovde Campaign: Statement on Supreme Court’s ObamaCare decision

Madison—Conservative businessman and U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde released the following statement Thursday after the Supreme Court ruled to uphold much of ObamaCare:

“Regrettably, the Supreme Court failed to uphold the Constitution today. Out-of-control spending, crushing debt and record high deficits already made this the most critical election of our life time, andthis just reaffirms the importance of electing a President, a Senate and a House that will make the tough decisions and adhere to our Constitution.

“One of my top priorities as a U.S. Senator will be to repeal and replace this trillion-dollar disaster with consumer-driven, free-market solutions, and I am confident that the American people will send a message to Washington this November that they feel the same way.”

"We must elect a president who understands the economy, respects free enterprise, and can provide the leadership we now so desperately need. On Election Day, we must elect Mitt Romney and put America on the path toward a brighter economic future and successful health care reform."
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SECRETARY DENNIS G. SMITH STATEMENT ON
U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING

MADISON—The U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) today. Wisconsin was one of 29 states to challenge the constitutionality of the law. DHS Secretary Dennis G. Smith reacted to the decision with the following statement:

“Today’s decision does not end the controversy over PPACA. It is the beginning of another chapter that will continue through the November elections. PPACA is now revealed as an enormous and aggressive tax on Americans. It will increase taxes especially on the poor. It will increase the cost of insurance on working middle class families. It will not keep the promises made by the Administration in respect to expanding health insurance coverage.

“While we will be reviewing the decision carefully to determine its full impact, Wisconsin’s health insurance market remains robust and the state has one of the highest levels of people with health insurance coverage. These achievements were made without federal mandates. Governor Walker, our Department and the Commissioner of Insurance will await the results of the November elections before taking action specific to today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on PPACA.”
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Jeff Fitzgerald Releases Statement on Supreme Court Obamacare Ruling

Madison- U.S. Senate Candidate and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald has released the following statement in regards to the Supreme Court's ruling on Obamacare.

"President Obama may have won a battle today but it is likely to cost him the war in the ballot booth this fall.

"Today's ruling more than ever demonstrates why we must elect a Republican majority in the US Senate and it ensures that conservative voters will be there to do so in November.

"As our national debt approaches $16 trillion and we face an imminent entitlement crisis, creating a brand new entitlement that dwarfs all the others, spells doom for our economy and the long term prosperity of our nation.

"If there is to be one positive to take away from today's ruling, it is that the court has clearly defined ObamaCare as what it is - the largest tax increase on the middle class in history.

"The contrast between my opponent Tammy Baldwin, who supported this tax, and myself has never been more clear.

"If elected to the US Senate, I will take the same approach I've taken in Wisconsin to get our spending trajectory and economy back on track.

"Just as I led the fight to kill the Democrat's $18 billion "Healthy Wisconsin" tax hike in Wisconsin, I will battle to repeal the trillion dollar ObamaCare tax on the middle class when in Washington."
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WMC Reacts to U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Health Care Law

MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President/CEO Kurt R. Bauer said Thursday that the U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold Obama’s health care law is disappointing and will hurt businesses of all sizes.

“The fact that a divided court upheld the constitutionality of the health care law does not make it good public policy,” Bauer said. “As Chief Justice Roberts noted in his decision, Congress, not the Supreme Court, made the policy choices under the Constitution and hopefully lawmakers will have the good sense to repeal this misguided law.”

“The so-called Affordable Health Care Act will actually drive up the cost of health care, and in the absence of massive tax increases is likely to bankrupt the federal government.

The uncertainty that businesses of all sizes feel continues with today’s decision and will be a drag on economic growth.”
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U.S. Senator Herb Kohl’s statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act:

I believe the Supreme Court made the right decision today. There is much more work to be done in controlling health care costs, but 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. As we know, health care costs are a drag on our economy and the Affordable Care Act tackles some of the most rapidly growing health care expenses.
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Statement by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen
Regarding Today’s Supreme Court Decision

“My fundamental reason in joining this lawsuit on behalf of the State of Wisconsin was that the federal government was unconstitutionally expanding its powers, and in doing so, it was eroding the states’ sovereign ability to self govern.

On this issue, we as states have registered a resounding victory. The Court has very clearly stated, once again, that the federal government has limits to its use of the commerce clause and that it cannot be used by the federal government to force a citizen to purchase something.

As well, we argued that mandating the states to participate in this law or risk losing all prior Medicaid funding, was unconstitutional under the spending clause as coercive. The Court agreed. States will now have much greater latitude to determine the scope of their Medicaid program.

While the decision upholds the Affordable Care Act, it is a tremendous victory for re-establishing Constitutional limits on the power of the federal government. It should be clear that this ruling vindicates the states’ legal arguments. This will be studied for years to come as a landmark decision that promotes federalism and limited government.”
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Republican Party of Wisconsin Statement on ObamaCare Ruling

[Madison, WI]- Republican Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Nathan Conrad released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on ObamaCare today:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision sets the stakes for the November election. Now, the only way to save the country from ObamaCare’s budget-busting government takeover of health care is to elect a new president.

Under President Obama’s signature legislation, health care costs continue to skyrocket, and up to 20 million Americans could lose their employer-based coverage. Meanwhile, a panel of unelected bureaucrats now has the unprecedented authority to come between elderly patients and their doctors.

We need market-based solutions that give patients more choice, not less. The answer to rising health care costs is not, and will never be, Big Government.

As Governor Walker fights to protect the hardworking taxpayers of Wisconsin, this mandate will increase the burden on already struggling families and slow the ability for private-sector companies to spur job creation throughout the state.

We must elect a president who understands the economy, respects free enterprise, and can provide the leadership we now so desperately need. On Election Day, we must elect Mitt Romney and put America on the path toward a brighter economic future and successful health care reform.”
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Rep. Duffy Statement on Supreme Court Upholding the Job-Killing Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON – Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07) released the following statement today after the United States Supreme Court upheld the trillion-dollar Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also referred to as Obamacare, passed by Congress in 2009:

“Today’s decision is a win for Big Government and a loss for Wisconsin families and job creators. This law is an aggressive and unwarranted intrusion of government into our lives. Obamacare fails to fulfill any of its original promises, heaping massive debt on America, imposing stiff penalties on small businesses which will kill jobs, and actually causing health care costs to rise. Furthermore, this law puts unelected government bureaucrats in charge of health care decisions rather than individuals and families.

“The Supreme Court confirmed the so-called individual “mandate” is nothing more than a massive tax on the American people and on job creators. Congress does have the power to tax – and in this case, Obamacare heaps taxes on everything from small businesses, to medical devices, to the average middle class American.

“We all agree that Health Care reform is necessary in this country, but I believe that we should work to replace Obamacare with a consumer-based approach that uses market reforms to make health care affordable again. That’s why I introduced legislation last year, H.R. 3682, that would be used as a starting point for discussions moving forward. My bill allows people to purchase health insurance across state lines, ends junk lawsuits, allows small businesses to pool together to offer health insurance, and empowers patients with meaningful data on cost and quality so they are better equipped to make good decisions about their health care. My plan also covers individuals with pre-existing medical conditions and keeps kids on their parents’ insurance after college.

“I would still support a full repeal of this job-killing law and would push for a replacement that takes bureaucrats out of our doctors’ offices and makes make healthcare more affordable for all.”
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