Attorney General-elect Keith Ellison and his fellow Minnesota Democrats are vowing to fight a Friday ruling from a federal judge in Texas that deemed Obamacare “unconstitutional.”
“The Individual Mandate can no longer be fairly read as an exercise of Congress’ Tax Power and is still impermissible under the Interstate Commerce Clause—meaning the Individual Mandate is unconstitutional,” U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor wrote Friday night. “The Individual Mandate is essential to and inseverable from the remainder of the ACA.”
“Without it, Congress and the Supreme Court have stated, the architectural design fails,” he added. Since the ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the law will remain intact for the time being, according to NBC.
On Saturday, Ellison wrote on Twitter that his job as the next attorney general of Minnesota is to “help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity.”
“This ruling is the exact opposite of that. As the People’s Lawyer, I’ll fight with everything I have to overturn it,” he added.
My job is to help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity.
This ruling is the exact opposite of that.
As the People’s Lawyer, I’ll fight with everything I have to overturn it.https://t.co/lm9aWq1gtb
— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) December 15, 2018
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said the ruling will “throw out [the] Affordable Care Act and protections for millions of people” right “before Christmas.”
“Trump administration has already said it won’t help to defend it. Now it is on us and the Democratic attorney generals. Let’s get to work,” she said.
Facts: Texas judge just ruled to throw out Affordable Care Act & protections for millions of people on a Friday night right before Christmas. Trump administration has already said it won’t help to defend it. Now it is on us & the Democratic Attorney Generals. Let’s get to work.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) December 15, 2018
Klobuchar’s colleague, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), said Friday’s ruling undermines “historic health care legislation” and “would be catastrophic” if it is allowed to stand.
“It would rob millions of health care coverage and would return us to the days when people could be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions,” Smith said on Twitter.
Ruling by federal judge in TX to undermine historic health care legislation—if the decision is allowed to stand—would be catastrophic. It would rob millions of health care coverage and would return us to the days when people could be denied coverage bc of pre-existing conditions.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) December 15, 2018
President Donald Trump responded to the news Friday night by saying the ruling was what he “predicted all along.”
“Now Congress must pass a strong law that provides great healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done,” he said. “Great news for America.”
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “healthcare.gov” by healthcare.gov.
