AUGUSTA, Maine — State Rep. Sharon Treat says she’s joining 50 other Maine Democrats and hundreds of legislators across the country in filing a “friend of the court” brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the national health care law.
The amicus brief supporting the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act is to be filed Friday.
Treat, of Hallowell, says she and other lawmakers are joining the lawsuit because they know thousands of people will benefit from the new health law.
The state of Maine has already joined the lawsuit opposing the health care law. The case goes before the court in late March.
Among the law’s many provisions is a state-based health exchange marketplace to open in 2014 where consumers can buy more affordable insurance.
Just one of many reasons Mainers need to vote for Democratic candidates next November. If it were up to Maine voters the State of Maine wouldn’t be fighting the Affordable Care Act. If we want to stop this and many other embarrassments from continuing we must vote wisely and in strong numbers next November. One can only hope that when Mr. Lepage loses his House and Senate majorities he will be forced back down to earth and start speaking and acting something like a real human being, you know, like have a hint of integrity, honesty, and sense of responsibility to his fellow citizens. As it stands now he speaks and acts like nothing can touch him. Well it will take some time but we can and we will reach out and give him a little tap/not the kisses he prefers on his backside when we go to vote again.
There is no way I will vote Dem. I realize there is no such thing as FREE lunch. YOU get what you work and pay for! stop living in some fantasy world! Go get get em Paul!
No one is asking for a free lunch, just affordable health care options.
Thirty-two of the thirty-three developed nations have universal health care, with the United States being the lone exception
The gummint can’t force you to buy anything. Period.
The gummint forces you to buy car insurance.
If people want to go without health insurance, don’t come crying to the gummint to pay your medical bills.
yessah
What if you don’t own a car? I know many people who don’t drive or own vehicles – they aren’t forced to purchase auto insurance.
Why have there been so many exemptions granted to Obamacare (mostly to unions)? Why are these people exempt? Why are the Amish exempt? Guess it’s not mandatory for everyone, huh?
LOL – well if you don’t own a car, then you don’t have to buy car insurance.
Unions are exempt because they negotiate good health care plans with employers and have better health insurance policies and what would be required under the ACA.
…which is why conservatives hate unions – they negotiate good wages and benefits for their members.
…which is contrast to the LePage-Mardens Approach – which is to take health insurance away from low income wage earners.
yessah
Unions representing 543,812 workers received waivers from Obamacare since June 17, 2011. Private employers with a total of 69,813 employees were issued waivers.
Over 600,000 people are exempt from your president’s plan…how is that fair?
Those people already get health insurance – that is why they are exempt from having to get health insurance under the ACA.
It is not rocket science.
yessah
Selective enforcement of the law is the first sign of tyranny.
The real tyranny is the power of the for-profit health care industry to pay off republicans so they can deny, or make unaffordable, health care to millions of Americans.
…or the tyranny of those who can afford health insurance – but don’t buy it – and go crying to the gummint when they can’t afford their medical care.
We pay for that tyranny – with life, health and treasure.
If people don’t like the “tyranny” of affordable health care they can move to Canada…
…oh wait…
…or England….
…oh wait…
….or Japan….
…oh wait…
…or Germany…
nevermind….
So the insurance that all but 600,000 Americans are now forced to purchase – are those insurance companies non-profit?
If you already have health care coverage then you are not required to purchase health care coverage under the Affordabel Healthcare plan.
It is really simple once you stop listening to paid harpies of teh insurance companies.
Ummm – under the ACA, insurance companies will be tyrannically forced to pay out 85% of their income as benefits.
Instead of lining the pockets of upper management, CEOs and the 1% investor class.
So, whilst they are making profits, they will have their profits limited so that they actually pay out on their policies and offer more coverage.
This tyranny is good.
and finally….
Access to health care is a RIGHT – not a privilege.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness – and all that good 1776 stuff the Tea Party sez they like.
yessah
Hey munebaght,
Everyone already has access to health care. Your so-called RIGHT to health care is actually the RIGHT to purchase health care. That right is, not now, nor has ever been infringed upon by anyone, not even the”gummint”. What you are really getting at is that you want someone else to pay for it for you. Be honest and stop citing this tyranny crap.
yessah
How does the Affordable Health Care act make someone else pay for my health care?
Clue – it doesn’t – it makes the health insurance I ***pay for*** more affordable.
and yes – I will correct my previous statement – Health Care is a Right
period
yessah
And then they can wait in line for care or just die like they do in those countries.
That doesn’t happen.
I lived and worked in Canada for several years and never heard any complaint about Health Canada.
From my personal experience the Canadian health care system is far less expensive and infinitely better than the chaotic scrum we call “health care” here in the States.
yessah
It isn’t selective, those who get insurance through their work that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements don’t have to buy the ACA insurance. It is that simple.
I thought the ACS (or the Mass. plan?) was the first sign of tyranny.
So mandating draft registration at age 18, with the possibility of getting drafted and getting killed in a war, but not being able to go to a bar until you are 21 isn’t selective enforcement?
Or how about bailing out huge corporations and not helping out other smaller company’s and letting them go bankrupt….isn’t selective?
Can you sight, I mean cite even one case where an employer has taken health insurance away from low wage earners? I think I know what you mean, but there is a huge difference between not providing health insurance, and taking away health insurance. Employer subsidized health insurance is a benefit not an employee right.
It’s the same thing as a tax. Our taxes go to private entities all the time.
Federal government does not force you to buy car insurance. Your state forces you to have car insurance or pay a fee to drive uninsured.
It’s still government.
try again
Pay a fee to drive uninsured?? Where did you come up with that one? In the real world, if you drive without insurance the state forces you to pay a FINE….not a fee.
Since my husband is still serving in the military, we live in Virginia. You can pay $400 uninsured fee at the DMV. I don’t know if every state does it.
Thirty-two of the thirty-three developed nations have universal health care, with the United States being the lone exception
I cannot afford health care insurance. Period. My bills already equal or exceed my income. How dare our Federal Government enact a law that affects every one of us while exempting themselves from it. They are supposed to represent us, not rule us like the silver spoon-fed kings and queens they think they are. The gap between the haves and the have-nots continues to widen and we all know what side the Government is on. I will never ever pay one nickel for anything “my” Government tells me I have to spend. We need to take our Government back and never allow this ‘aristocracy’ to take away any more of our given freedoms.
It is scary how few understand this. My family has been in your situation before. Good luck to you, and may your situation improve.
It’s called the Affordable Care Act – to make health insurance affordable and prevent people from medical bankruptcy, or severe illness (or worse) because they can’t afford good health insurance, or from not being able to get health insurance at all because of pre-existing conditions.
By 2014, Maine will have a health insurance exchange where people can shop for – affordable – health care.
Make no mistake about it – the GOP does not want the American People to have affordable insurance (or health insurance at all).
yessah
It’s also called Obama care and socialized health care. All Republican nominees have pledged to repeal if elected, even the RINO’s.
How can private health insurance companies provide “socialized” health care?
They can’t.
Try again.
And, the GOP is on the wrong side of this issue – the more people know about the ALA, the more they like it.More voters want to keep it than get rid of it.
And, because the right wing has associated the ACA with Obama’s name – people will know who to vote for this November.
So, where is the GOP alternative?
oops – they never proposed any (except to get rid of Medicare).
Yessah
Don’t even bother…his name says it all!
All aspects of the law aren’t in effect yet. Once they are, things will become more affordable.
Good – when people stop listening to right winger lies, they support the Affordable Care Act.
LePage and the GOP want to destroy our health care system in Maine and nationwide.
Although I support the ACA, I do not think it goes far enough – we need a Universal Single Payer system that has the power to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers.
yessah
“we need a Universal Single Payer”
Indeed, and then your dream of being a slave will be complete…now get over there and do some work slave, I need some more medical marijuana for my “insomnia”…
yes massah
Are Canadians slaves?
nossuh
Do Canadians enjoy better health than Americans – and live longer too.
yessah
Do Canadians fear medical bankruptcy – like thousands of Americans do each year?
nossuh
Is Canada’s Single Payer system “socilaized medicine”?
nossuh
Do Canadians spend outrageous amounts of money on health insurance and get less health care for their dollars – like Americans?
nossuh
The GOP fools no one
yessah
Thirty-two of the thirty-three developed nations have universal health care, with the United States being the lone exception
Thank you, Maine Dems. We need you to speak loud and clearly!
They’re certainly loud, just not that clear and completely irrational.
Kinda like Le Page’s DHHS proposal.
In the absence of a coherent single payer national health insurance program, rather than the current chaos, it’s the least the Dems can do.
agreed
Please my sheep, there are no wolves behind the door. Just sign here to find out if I’m telling the truth. Nancy Pelosi
Please my sheep, keep quiet on your way to the abattoir – do not make a fuss if you are sick and cannot afford health insurance.
Mitch McConnell, John Boehner & Mitt Romney
The problem is, Since all the dems vote together all the time, There is no need for more then one them,, Yes folks since Emily Cain speaks for them all,, all of the time, why are we spending millions on the rest of the Dems???? Lets pass a law the Emily Cain shall be the only Dem in Augusta… None of the others seem to have a thought of their own that I have ever heard anyway… So Lets cut out the rest of them…