Business & Tech

Local Leaders Weigh in On Health Care Ruling

Elected officials and business leaders talk about the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling upholding President Obama's health care plan.

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld President Obama's health care plan in a 5-4 decision. Here's what local business leaders and elected officials have to say so far (check back with Patch for additional local reaction):

Jim Brooks, president of the Evermore Community Improvement District, told Patch that there are more than 1,600 businesses -- the majority of them small -- and 508 property owners within its 7.5 mile corridor.

On the potential impact of health care reform on small business, he said: "I think it's too soon to tell. I think people have been open to a lot of conjecture about what the effects will be, particularly on small business. I think how it plays out over time is going to be the real indicator of its effects."

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State Rep. Michele Henson, whose District 87 includes parts of Stone Mountain told Patch that said in her years of being on health care committees and involved in the dental field, she's seen people with no insurance who had few options for care other than visiting the emergency room.

"At least this will give them an opportunity to have insurance," she said.

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Not everyone is happy with the ruling or the President.

"obama = 4 more years of decline !!!" commented "Rrf," who listed a Stone Mountain location at the end of the Yahoo Finance article Obamacare & Health Care ETFs: What You Need to Know.

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Here are statements on the Supreme Court's decision from some other elected officials:

State Rep. Dar'shun N. Kendrick, House District 94, candidate, State House District 93:

"As a practicing attorney and legislator, I am delighted that the Supreme Court used sound legal reasoning and judgment in upholding the Affordable Healthcare Act. The Court could have bent to corporate and Republican pressure to deny millions of Americans the right to access affordable healthcare but it didn't and I couldn't be more of a proud American. Insurance companies will no longer be able to arbitrarily deny coverage to sick patients when they need it most and charge women more than men. By August, millions of Americans will receive a rebate because their insurance companies spent too much of their premium on non health related costs, such as CEO bonuses. Millions of young adults under age 26 will be able to stay on their parents healthcare plan. This is a CLEAR and FINAL ruling of law by the Court that provide security to the middle class. Instead of focusing on repealing what the Supreme Court has clearly and definately stated is constitutional, Congress should instead focus on creating jobs and on the economy. Georgia has one of the highest unemployment rates and highest foreclosure rates. The Court has spoken and now Congress must get back to the priority at hand and that is getting America, which includes Georgia, back to work."

Rep. Hank Johnson, whose Congressional District 4 includes parts of Stone Mountain:

“After more than a century of debate, the American people won an historic victory with passage of the Affordable Care Act.

“After decades of choosing between buying medications and putting food on the table, after decades of living in fear of bankruptcy caused by an unexpected illness, Americans are entering a new era of reliable access to quality, affordable health care.  President Obama and Congress took the lead and did what no other Congress and Administration has been able to do – put health insurance in reach for the more than 50 million uninsured Americans and make it more affordable for everyone.

 “Today, the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the law, and upheld these important protections. It is time to move on and focus on strengthening the economy, creating jobs and paying down our debt. This is a great day for looking forward and pulling together for the American people.”


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