Supreme Court Decision on Health Care Subsidies
Supreme Court decided that Obama’s healthcare law will be allowed to grant subsidies nationwide to the poor and middle class to help them pay for health insurance.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and five other judges want to consider the balance of powers when respecting Congress’s decision.
“But in every case we must respect the role of the Legislature, and take care not to undo what it has done. A fair reading of legislation demands a fair understanding of the legislative plan,” Roberts said.
Based on the legislation’s intent, Roberts believes the Act will help the economy and therefore should be legal for subsidies.
“Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them. If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter,” Roberts wrote.
Justice Antonin Scalia and two dissenting justices believe the Affordable Care Act should be viewed literally and accuses the decision to be more political than legal.
Additionally, Scalia believes the decision should be relegated to Congress, not the Supreme Court.
Iran Nuclear Deal
Iran and six nations, the United States, France, China, UK, Russia, and Germany, reached an agreement of lifting the economic sanctions for the limitation of Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons.
“Today’s announcement marks one more chapter in our pursuit of a safer, more helpful and more hopeful world,” President Barack Obama said.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes the deal is a mistake. He is lobbying to encourage to be against the deal.
“This is a time to stand up and be counted. Oppose this dangerous deal,” Netanyahu said.
In the agreement, Iran will decrease the amount of of enriched uranium by 98%, have two thirds of its centrifuges under international supervision, grant International Atomic Energy Agency access and accept economic sanctions if violations occur.
Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage
In the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court decided 5-4 that same sex marriage is a constitutional right on June 26.
Same sex marriages will be under the “ same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex”and cannot be outlawed by any state.
“[Same sex couples] ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. does not oppose the decision but believes the decision should be made by the states not the Supreme Court.
“Whether same-sex marriage is a good idea should be of no concern to us,” Roberts wrote.
Roberts wants people to celebrate the decision but not due to the constitution.
“Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote.
Kennedy acknowledges that the debate will continue as those opposed with the same sex marriage will continue to oppose same sex marriage.