Schakowsky Response to Federal Judge’s Ruling on Health Care Reform

VA judge issues outlier ruling: individual responsibility mandate unconstitutional

WASHINGTON, DC (December 13, 2010) — Today Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), issued the following statement in response to the ruling by Virginia's U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson that the individual responsibility mandate in health The Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.

"The ruling by Federal Judge Henry Hudson is disappointing but by no means decisive.  Implementation of the historic Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will continue.  Families and small businesses will still be able to benefit from the immediate protections in the Act, including coverage of children up to age 26 on their parents' policies and new tax credits.

"While Republicans in Congress who uniformly voted against the bill will continue their attacks, it is important to recognize that Judge Hudson is alone in finding the coverage requirement to be unconstitutional.  Two other federal judges found otherwise, and twelve other cases were dismissed.

"I am confident that health care reform will stand up to the ultimate legal test. As the law winds its way through the courts — and possibly to the Supreme Court — I will continue the fight to protect the law from Republicans who would undo this historic legislation to the detriment to American families, children, workers and employers....