WASHINGTON, D.C. (WordNews.org) March 27, 2012 – The Supreme Court will once again hear arguments on both sides of the health care debate on Wednesday.
It is the final day of hearings on the issue before the high court.
Today the Supreme Court heard the second day of oral argument in the case of Florida v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, which focused on the individual mandate of ObamaCare.
Fox News and other outlets reported Justice Anthony Kennedy, considered the swing justice, posed some of the toughest question about health care law.
Fox called it the most important day of arguments for the landmark case. The justices appear to be divided on the issue, Fox reported.
Monday’s argument focused on the Anti-Injunction Act (AIA). Liberty Counsel said if the AIA applies, the court may not be able to reach the decision on the individual mandate until after it becomes effective in 2014 or thereafter.
But that seems unlikely based on the comments the justices asked, according to Liberty Counsel, which filed a brief with the court on the AIA. It was Liberty Counsel’s case, Liberty University v. Geithner, that presented the issue before the Court.
The crux of the case was the individual mandate during the second day of argument. Liberty Counsel said it filed a second brief before the court, arguing that the individual mandate exceeds Congress’s authority under the Commerce Clause.
On Wednesday, the court will consider the Medicaid provision and also hear argument on whether provisions of the law can be severed, allowing portions of the law to remain in effect.
It was Liberty Counsel that filed the first private lawsuit against the health care law on the same day it was signed into law.
“Based on the questions and comments of the Justices, it appears that a majority believe the court can decide the merits now and not wait until 2014,” said Matthew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Council. He said the hearings were “a good beginning on the road to overturn ObamaCare.”