WASHINGTON, D.C. — Georgia's Ninth District Congressman said he was disappointed but not surprised by Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold nationwide insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
Speaking by phone from his office in Washington, Doug Collins said the Supreme Court justices, in the decision, were taking on a role meant for Congress.
"Unfortunately, the Supreme Court, in decisions dealing with Obamacare, have decided that they would much rather be legislators than jurists," said Collins.
The ruling basically means that subsidies are valid in all 50 states, even in those, such as Georgia, that did not set up their own insurance exchanges.
Collins said he's heard from constituents in north Georgia who have lost coverage, been forced to pay higher insurance premiums and had to pay more out of pocket under the Affordable Care Act.
"Frankly, for many of us this has to be handled...when this President leaves office in a little over 18 months," said Collins.
He said he believes health care will be a rallying point for Republicans in the 2016 presidential race.
"Republicans owe it to this country to find a workable solution for every state, and bring health care regulations back to being patient-centered, accessible and affordable," Collins said in a press statement released right after the SCOTUS ruling.
Collins also pointed out in the statement that Congress had voted to repeal or defund the health care law 66 times
"Since being elected to Congress, I have personally voted to dismantle this economic nightmare of a law 28 times," Collins said in the statement.
