Jorge a. Bañales
Washington, 23 mar ( EFE).-health care reform enacted in 2010 for the U.S. President, Barack Obama, today celebrates two years as the greatest achievement of its mandate and the most maligned by their opponents, on the eve that the Supreme Court heard arguments in their favor and against.
Legislation – officially known as Act of care affordable for the health – introduced the biggest changes in more than half a century in health care in United States and aims to provide these services to millions of people who cannot afford them.
Obama has not planned any special event to commemorate the second anniversary of the enactment of the reform and, in fact, will depart this same Friday towards Korea of the South to participate in the Summit of Nuclear safety to be held in Seoul next week.
No Republican legislator voted for the law in 2010 and staunchest opponents have denounced the changes, which are have been introduced gradually, as a step towards a totalitarian regime.
In 38 of the 50 States of the country Republicans lawmakers have submitted bills which impair or limit the application of the reform.
Also, the Republican Governments of 26 States initiated lawsuits next week to reach the Supreme.
From Monday the nine Supreme magistrates will hear arguments about the most controversial ingredient of the affordable health care Act: the obligation that all people in the us have health insurance or pay a fine for not having.
The Government of Obama argues that such requirement is a complement to the new mechanisms included in the legislation and that they will create systems of affordable health insurance for the entire population.
In USA most people with health insurance get it through their employers.
There are employers who do not offer health insurance and persons who do not have or lose a job lose insurance.
Those who have no insurance and face emergencies going to hospitals, where the cost of your attention goes to taxpayers.
“Compulsory insurance” opponents argue that this stipulation in the law violates the Constitution, both because it forces individuals to the acquisition of a service because it imposes on the States cost dictated by the federal Government.
On Tuesday will continue the exchange of arguments about the “compulsory insurance” and will begin the arguments on other aspects of the legislation, which will run also during Wednesday.
The Supreme Court, which could issue its ruling in the middle year can declare any unconstitutional law or may declare that the ingredient of “compulsory insurance” is unconstitutional.
Could also accept the constitutionality of any legislation which, according to various polls, has the support of almost 60 percent of Americans.
The opinion of the Supreme, whatever, have a major impact on the election campaign, in which Obama seeks reelection in November and his Republican opponents have already promised that reach the White House, his first step would be to eliminate health care reform.
The White House hoped that the Supreme will validate the constitutionality of the law.
“This is a historic moment because we have these arguments in the Supreme Court, but we are confident that the Court will say that this is the law and will remain the law,” said Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the Council of internal policy of the White House, this Thursday in a roundtable with media in Spanish.
The Executive will continue implementing the law “because this is very important not only for our health, but also for the country’s economy and the economies of families”, said Munoz, who predicted that the Congress nor will succeed revoke her. EFE
