To the Point
Conservatives Justices Take Hard Line on Healthcare Law
One major question raised by the Affordable Care Act is, just how much power does the so-called Commerce Clause give the government? The "mandate" to buy health insurance or pay a penalty if you don't came under harsh attack today in the US Supreme Court.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readOne major question raised by the Affordable Care Act is, just how much power does the so-called Commerce Clause give the government? The "mandate" to buy health insurance or pay a penalty if you don't came under harsh attack today in the US Supreme Court. Would it mean the federal government could require Americans to eat broccoli, exercise or buy funeral insurance? Does the Affordable Care Act regulate commerce or create it? Is there any limit to government power? Justices were demanding answers today. How well did the Obama Administration's lawyer respond? What's next for the President's "signature legislative achievement?"
(Special thanks to Gideon Brower for production assistance.)
Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Katie Cooper
Producer, 'One year Later'
Sonya Geis
Senior Managing Editor
Jess Bravin
reporter for The Wall Street Journal, author of “Squeaky: The Life and Times Of Lynette Alice Fromme”
Andrew Cohen
senior editor at The Marshall Project, and a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice
Dahlia Lithwick
Author; Senior legal affairs correspondent, Slate; podcast host, Amicus podcast