Community Corner

Kittleman: Health Care is 'Albatross to Hang Around the President's Neck'

The Republican who represents Carroll and Howard counties said the health care law would be a major election issue.

 

Republican Sen. Allan Kittleman, who represents Howard and Carroll counties, said the Supreme Court’s Thursday decision to uphold the individual mandate that requires the purchase of insurance as a tax would be a major election issue.

“I think it’s going to be one of the, if not the biggest issue in the election,” Kittleman told Patch. “It could be an albatross to hang around the president’s neck and make it difficult for re-election.”

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He said he was “disappointed” by the Supreme Court’s decision Thursday.

“I’m glad the court said it violated the Commerce Act,” he said. “My concern--it seems the justices have stretched to find it valid under the power of taxing authority.”

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The announcement allows the Affordable Care Act championed by President Barack Obama to move forward. It's expected that the law would offer health care to more than 30 million Americans, according to the Huffington Post.

Carroll health care leaders they supported the ruling.

"For the first time, I feel that we’re really going to make progress in redesigning the health care system in America,” said John Sernulka, Carroll Hospital Center President and CEO. "As a health care leader I obviously support every American having access to health care insurance.”

Do you have an opinion on how health care will impact the presidential election? Tell us in our poll: http://patch.com/A-v9Yc

See related coverage Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling:

  


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