President Obama welcomed the Supreme Court’s Thursday decision to uphold subsidies for healthcare plans available through his healthcare law, calling it a victory “for hard-working Americans all across the country.”
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, “is not an abstract thing anymore,” he said in a remarks delivered from the White House Rose Garden. “This is not a set of talking points. It’s reality … This is healthcare in America.”
Obama said despite “more than 50 votes in Congress to repeal or weaken this law” and after a 2012 presidential election that was basically a referendum on the law, “the Affordable Care Act is here to stay.” Supporters outside the Supreme Court were chanting “the ACA is here to stay” after the decision was announced.
“The setbacks — I remember clearly,” he joked. “But as the dust settles, there is no doubt that it is working,” he said about his signature domestic initiative.
If the “partisan” challenges in Congress, the Supreme Court had succeeded “millions” would’ve lost healthcare coverage, he said.
“That’s when America soars, when we take care of each other. When we look out for each other … when we strive to do better for generations to come,” he added. “That’s why we do what we do. That’s the whole point of public service. So this was a good day for America. Let’s get back to work,” he ended to applause.
