The Republicans running for president in 2016 expressed disappointment — and in one case accused the high court of “judicial tyranny” — after the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld federal subsidies under President Obama’s health care law.
“Today’s King v. Burwell decision, which protects and expands Obamacare, is an out-of-control act of judicial tyranny,” said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. “Our founding fathers didn’t create a ‘do-over’ provision in our Constitution that allows unelected, Supreme Court justices the power to circumvent Congress and rewrite bad laws.”
“This decision turns both the rule of law and common sense on its head,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said. “Obamacare raises taxes, harms patients and doctors, and is the wrong fix for America’s health care system.”
“It is outrageous that the Supreme Court once again rewrote ObamaCare to save this deeply flawed law despite the plain text and in the face of overwhelming evidence that the law is not working for the majority of Americans,” said former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
“I disagree with the court’s ruling and believe they have once again erred in trying to correct the mistakes made by President Obama and Congress in forcing Obamacare on the American people,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
“I am disappointed by today’s Supreme Court ruling in the King v. Burwell case,” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said. “But this decision is not the end of the fight against Obamacare.”
“While I disagree with the ruling, it was never up to the Supreme Court to save us from Obamacare,” former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said. “We need leadership in the White House that recognizes the folly of having to pass a bill to know what’s in it.”
“Now that the Supreme Court has ruled, the debate will grow,” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said. “Conservatives must be fearless in demanding that our leaders in Washington repeal and replace Obamacare with a plan that will lower health care costs and restore freedom.”
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling upholding the administration’s implementation of Obamacare means Republicans in the House and Senate must redouble their efforts to repeal and replace this destructive and costly law,” Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who’s exploring a run, said Thursday.