Judge Vinson’s Ruling Takes Benefits From Working Families

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.afscme.org/press/34084.cfm

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 31, 2011
Judge Vinson’s Ruling Takes Benefits From Working Families

Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act

Washington, DC — “More than a dozen federal judges have dismissed constitutional challenges to the Affordable Care Act. Today, Judge Roger Vinson, a Reagan appointee to the bench, becomes the second federal judge to side with those who want to put the insurance companies back in charge of our health care. Under his ruling, real benefits would be taken away from working families.

“The Affordable Care Act is bringing an end to the worst practices of the insurance industry, such as denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions and taking coverage away from those who get sick. To make these improvements sustainable, and to eliminate the cost shifting that drives up premiums for those who already have coverage, everyone must be brought into our system.

“In the past, federal judges struck down Social Security, the minimum wage and the Voting Rights Act before the Supreme Court reversed their rulings. We are confident that the Supreme Court will reject Judge Vinson’s wrongheaded decision.”

AFSCME’s 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations – from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers – AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.

[mike_c]

1. this is a smoke screen....

I think it's ironic that we can talk about "bringing an end to the worst practices of the insurance industry" with a straight face-- the real "worst practice" is adding zero value to health care while siphoning off billions in profit for greedy captains of industry and their investors. The health insurance industry is a fraud and a scam. It exists solely to profit from human misery and sickness. I won't shed a tear for those ghouls, ever. We need publicly funded health care for all, not mandated profits for insurance company executives!

[Newest Reality]

2. Well said!

[Maine_Nurse]

3. True universal, public-funded yes. The crap that was passed, no. nt

[DonCoquixote]

4. so

How do you intend to get single payer passed when enough stupid americans got scared of what obama did,much less actual single payer.

[mike_c]

5. it takes leadership with the courage and conviction to do the RIGHT thing...

...rather than the profitable thing. FDR did it with with Social Security and the New Deal. LBJ did it with the war on poverty and the great society. We have swept state sanctioned segregation aside. We have sent dictatorial regimes and their armies to hell. With strong and effective leadership, we can overcome the greed of wealthy insurance companies, too.