Third and State

Update: We have more on today's Supreme Court ruling at the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's web site.

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in a highly anticipated ruling. Chief Justice John Roberts joined Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor in the decision.

As the New Republic explains:

The decision means that the Affordable Care Act can take effect. Thirty million people who might otherwise be uninsured will get coverage. Tens of millions more will get better insurance than they might have had, whether it's seniors getting additional drug coverage or purchasers of private insurance getting the right to appeal insurer treatment decisions. Nearly all Americans will gain new peace of mind — the knowledge that comprehensive coverage will always be there, no matter what their medical or financial status.

The New Republic notes that part of Roberts' decision, joined by the justices who dissented on the broader ruling, limits the federal government's ability to prescribe how states use federal dollars for Medicaid. That could impact the expansion of Medicaid included in the health law.

Bottom line: The Affordable Care Act is here to stay. It is now time for Governor Corbett and our elected leaders in Harrisburg to get to work implementing the law in Pennsylvania. All Pennsylvanians deserve to have access to affordable health care that allows them to be healthy and productive members of their communities.