The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday upheld key provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act, saying the measure was a valid exercise of Congress’s power to tax. Governor Walker says the battle to overturn the law will continue though, arguing that just because “the court said it’s legal, it doesn’t make it right.”
Walker says the ruling confirms the law is a massive tax increase on U.S. citizens and he hopes voters opposed to the mandate will elect a president and Congress who will try to repeal the law. He expects the court decision to have a major impact in November, because it gives opponents a clear idea of who to vote for.
Another portion of the high court’s decision noted that the federal government can’t deny states Medicaid funding if they opt out of providing an insurance program for low-income residents. Walker says his staff is still looking at what that means for the state, and it’s premature to comment on what Wisconsin’s options may be.
Despite the Supreme Court upholding the law, Governor Walker says Wisconsin will not take any action to implement health care reforms until after the election. He says the legal challenge was only the first step, and Republicans reclaiming the White House and Congress could still stop if from taking effect. Walker says “only after each of those two has been exhausted will we consider what the state will do.”
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:12)
