This just in, from Republican Fifth District candidate Andrew Roraback, who spoke this afternoon at the state Capitol in Hartford:
Roraback
“The Supreme Court’s decision was quite a finesse,” he said. “There’s no disputing that our health care system is not well, but there’s also no disputing that Obamacare is not the right medicine to address the problems we face.”
“I think that what we need to do as a society is go back to square one and begin to develop a health care policy that we can afford as a nation and that will not lead to the government growing more, costing more and intruding more into our individual lives.”
“I think the mandate is a cleverly described tax increase. That kind of policy really changes the realtionship between the federal government and the people and I think we can do much better.”
The first reaction of the day to the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the federal health care law was from U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut’s 3rd congressional district.
DeLauro
“This is a victory for the American people,” DeLauro said in a statement. “The uncertainty created by the false questioning of the Act’s legality has been settled and states, insurance companies and businesses can move forward and keep carrying out the important health care and consumer protection provisions contained in the law. With this decision Congress can focus on what matters most to American families—strengthening our economy, creating jobs, generating economic growth and building a stronger middle class.”
From Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy on Twitter:
Just in from Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon, one of our first Republicans to respond:
McMahon
“Today’s decision by the High Court is extremely disappointing,” she said in a statement. “The American people were told that this legislation would lower costs. It hasn’t. They were told that it would not increase taxes. It does.
“The tax increases that finance this will devastate small businesses and middle class families.”
“Our choice this November is all the clearer. The majority of Americans oppose the President’s health care plan because it raises taxes on small businesses, cuts Medicare by $500 billion and increases costs. I opposed it because Connecticut small business owners have told me about the negative impact it has had on their ability to create jobs. But now the real work begins, and that’s why it is so important for Connecticut voters to send someone to Washington who will implement common-sense, market-based solutions that increase patient choice, control costs, and expand access to coverage for all Americans.
“I know what it’s like for the millions of Americans who lie awake at night worried about what they would do if, God forbid, something happened to a loved one and they couldn’t afford the medical care they need, because I’ve been there. When I found out I was pregnant with my son Shane, we didn’t have health insurance because we couldn’t afford it. As we reform our health care system, we should always remember those Americans, including many here in Connecticut, who every day face the uncertainty and fear of being without insurance or access to quality care.
Donovan
Now from Chris Donovan, Democratic candidate in the fifth district race, in an interview with Capitol Watch:
“It upholds the promise of health care for every for every American,” he said.
He said he was not worried about Republicans now pivoting from court challenges to instead using the ruling as campaign tactic–telling voters that they will repeal the law in an effort to get voters’ support in the Fifth District:
“Everyone where I go, people want quality affordable health care and I look forward to touting this proposal and when I get to congress, working to carry out the provision and make it even better,” he said. “We have medicare that’s been around for many years and it falls in line with Medicare, which people have a very positive opinion of,” he said.
Murphy
From Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and 5th District congressman Chris Murphy:
“The Supreme Court did the right thing, and today, Connecticut residents can have confidence that they will get better and more affordable care in the years to come,” he said in a statement. “I was a strong supporter of the bill because it was the right way to begin fixing a very broken health care system. Though this was a split decision by the court, it’s now time for Republicans to stop their attempts to repeal this bill, so that we can come together to implement it in a way that benefits Connecticut patients and taxpayers.”
Shays
But Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chris Shays is calling for repeal and even took a shot a Murphy in a statement:
“The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the individual healthcare mandate just reaffirms the need to send someone to the United States Senate who has the ability to repeal this destructive law. Obamacare is the single greatest infringement on our individual liberties and personal freedoms that we have seen in my generation. This was a power grab of the U.S. health care system by Chris Murphy, a Democratic Congress and the Obama Administration.”
Bysiewicz
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Susan Bysiewicz said the law and today’s ruling represent “the single largest step forward for health care in a generation”:
“Despite today’s ruling it is clear that the effort to provide affordable and accessible health care to every American is far from over,” she said in a statement. “Over the next few months Republicans will use every tool they have to take apart the Affordable Care Act. I will stand with the millions of American families and 300,000 Connecticut families who desperately need the quality and affordable care which is provided by this law.”
Greenberg
Mark Greenberg, Republican candidate in the fifth district race, is vowing to fight for a legislative repeal:
“Despite the Supreme Court decision ObamaCare is still a disaster for working families, and I am outraged that the government takeover of our healthcare system has been upheld by the Court. Unless ObamaCare is repealed millions of American families will lose their current healthcare coverage and will be forced into new government-run healthcare programs.
“Several new ObamaCare taxes and burdensome regulations on small businesses will take effect over the next two years. We must repeal ObamaCare before it can do any more harm to the economy, and if elected to Congress I will fight for immediate repeal.”
Bernier
Justin Bernier, another Republican candidate vying for the fifth district nod, said he hadn’t read the entire ruling yet, but said he has some “initial impressions” of it:
“The first is that, with the ruling focused on the ability of Congress to tax the American people, this decision essentially makes a liar out of President Obama, who promised to never increase taxes on the middle class,” Bernier said in a statement. “Secondly, it seems to me that the issue has been returned to the legislative branch. The next Congress will have the opportunity to repeal this burden on the American people and that’s the first thing I will be fighting for as Representative to the people in the 5th District.”
Esty
Elizabeth Esty, Democratic candidate in the fifth district race, praised the ruling and said it’s time to move on:
“The Supreme Court has made the right decision both legally and morally, and I applaud the President’s courage in taking on much needed reform,” she said in a statement. “Now that the Court has ruled, it’s time for both parties to stop bickering and start solving problems – making quality healthcare more affordable and, most importantly, creating jobs and rebuilding our middle class.”
Wilson-Foley
Republican Fifth District candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley felt the same as her rivals, that the should be repealed, but said doing so was especially important because of the current down economy.
“[T]he Supreme Court has, in effect, given Congress an unlimited ability to tax families and businesses to create a huge federally driven system,” she said in a statement. “With a deficit of $16 trillion, it is hard to imagine how our economy can survive and create opportunity with this decision.”
She praised some universally popular portions of the law–those dealing with pre-existing conditions and allowing children to stay on their parents’ insurance plans–but said her experience in the health care field makes her the best candidate to help craft the law’s repeal:
“The Supreme Court has exercised its Constitutional role but now is the time for Congress to work together on a health care plan that will give every American confidence that this critical issue will be addressed while not destroying our economy,” she said.
Now from Dan Roberti, another Democratic candidate in the fifth district race, in an interview with Capitol Watch:
Roberti
“It’s great and of course, it’s made all the more stronger that Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the decision. That should put to rest the issue of the
constitutionality of this.”
“It appears that there have been comments that Republicans will still challenge the affordable care act. But it’s a big win for Democrats and president Obama to be able to say that this is constitutionally sound. More importantly, it’s an extremely big win for millions of Americans who will be able to have access to health care.”
Connecticut’s Attorney General George Jepsen, a Democrat:
Jepsen
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a victory for the millions of Americans who need health care, for the individuals living with medical conditions who would otherwise be denied coverage, for parents who will be able to keep their children on their insurance plan until age 26 and for seniors struggling to afford their prescription medications. Tens of thousands of Connecticut residents have already benefited from health care reform, and tens of thousands more will benefit as more provisions of the law take effect.
“While I am still reviewing the Court’s legal analysis and the details of the decision, I applaud the Court for making the correct decision upholding the individual mandate and ensuring access to health care in our state and our country.”
Blumenthal
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat:
“The Court put the letter of the law above politics,” he said in a statement. “Now the fight continues to preserve and expand these vital patient protections against an ongoing assault. Access to affordable, quality health coverage is a basic right; we cannot turn back the clock. We need to work together – Republicans and Democrats – to bring down costs of health care and move forward to make other improvements that build on the work that the Affordable Care Act began.”
Lieberman
U.S. Sen. Joesph Lieberman, an Independent who is retiring after this year:
“I am pleased by the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which I supported,” Lieberman said. “Now that the constitutional debate surrounding the ACA has been resolved, Congress should closely monitor the implementation of the law to ensure that it is fiscally sustainable in the future.”
Larson
U.S. Rep. John Larson, of Connecticut’s 1st district, which includes Hartford, said the Supreme Court’s decision was a “great victory” for women and children with pre-existing conditions.
“Much work still needs to be done to make healthcare affordable and accessible to all, but hopefully today’s ruling means we can set the partisan fights aside and move forward as a nation.”
Now from U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, of Connecticut’s 2nd district:
Courtney
“Today’s ruling is a landmark moment in the fight for stable, secure health coverage for all Americans,” Courtney said in a statement. “Congress debated, the Supreme Court decided, and now the implementation of the Affordable Care Act can move forward. As with any law, the Affordable Care Act is not the final word on health care. This Congress and future Congresses can make commonsense amendments in response to real-life problems.”
Lembo
Connecticut’s Comptroller Kevin Lembo, a Democrat:
“This historic decision upholds decades of work to ensure that millions of uninsured Americans, including at least a half million Connecticut residents, have access to health care,” he said in a statement. “This victory, while critical, is only a new starting point. The federal government – and Connecticut – must maintain momentum to reform and improve our health-care system at every level.
Himes
U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, of Connecticut’s 4th district:
“With this decision in place, people and businesses across the country can move forward with the certainty that they will have access to affordable health insurance,” he said in a statement. “Because of health care reform, for the first time in over a decade, we saw a decrease in the growth of health care costs. I look forward to seeing continued progress as the remainder of the new law goes into effect and we tweak the law to continue to slow the growth of health care spending.”
This post will be updated throughout the day. Stay with us for constant coverage.