individual mandate

Was today's Supreme Court Obamacare decision a win for conservatives or a loss? It depends on what you were rooting for.

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court is expected to hand down its ruling on Obamacare--and, in particular, the individual mandate, which requires individuals to purchase health insurance whether they want it or not.

Why is there still so much resistance among Republican primary voters to Mitt Romney, the likely but not inevitable GOP nominee? Perhaps the deepest reason is this: At a moment in history when we need a bold commitment to reform, a fundamental willingness to limit the state and revitalize self-government, Romney’s achievements and qualifications seem out of step with the times.

Yesterday, Newt Gingrich did not answer questions regarding his past support for an individual health insurance mandate, as a recently discovered audio clip recorded in May 2009 showed. Here's what Gingrich said then:

Tampa, Fla.
Fewer than 24 hours before polls open for the Republican primary, Newt Gingrich was joined by Herman Cain and Michael Reagan for a relatively small campaign rally.

This week, the latest challenge to Obamacare, and its individual mandate to purchase health insurance, was heard before the 4^th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond.

In a speech today in Michigan, Mitt Romney made it clear he won't be running away from the health care system he implemented in Massachusetts. While pundits have encouraged him to admit that it was a mistake, Romney said, “There’s only one problem with that--it wouldn’t be honest.”

In what could be a sign of desperation on the part of opponents of the Paul Ryan’s budget, the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein and Slate’s Simon Lazarus both argue that the House budget contains an Obamacare-like individual mandate that requires people to buy health insurance under penalty of law. The short and simple answer is: No, it doesn’t.

The Seattle Times has an interesting interview with Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks. After being one of corporate America's most prominent supporters of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Schultz is now having second thoughts about the law:

So, Representative Hal Wick of Sioux Falls has introduced into the state legislature a bill that would require every citizen of the state to own a gun.

Whether House Republicans will succeed in limiting the national government is a question raised by a simple rule adopted on their first day in the majority. Under the rule, every bill when introduced must be accompanied by a statement citing the specific authority granted to Congress by the Constitution under which it may pass the proposed law. Lacking such a statement, the bill will be returned to its sponsor.