Texans react to Supreme Court ruling upholding health care subsidies

Texans were quick to react Thursday to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld a key piece of the Affordable Care Act.

The ruling in the King vs Burwell case allows federal subsidies to continue in states such as Texas that didn’t create a health exchange.

Here’s a look at what some had to say about the ruling:

“The Obama Administration has ignored the text of the Affordable Care Act time and again, and today’s ruling allows them to continue to disregard the letter of the law. While I disagree with the ruling, it was never up to the Supreme Court to save us from Obamacare. We need leadership in the White House that recognizes the folly of having to pass a bill to know what’s in it. We need leadership that understands a heavy-handed, one-size-fits-all policy does nothing to help health outcomes for Americans.” Republican presidential candidate and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry

“For nakedly political reasons, the Supreme Court willfully ignored the words that Congress wrote, and instead read into the law their preferred policy outcome. These judges have joined with President Obama in harming millions of Americans. Unelected judges have once again become legislators, and bad ones at that. They are lawless, and they hide their prevarication in legalese. Our government was designed to be one of laws, not of men, and this transparent distortion is disgraceful.” Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas

“The Supreme Court’s decision … is good news for more than one million Texans who received subsidies to buy insurance through the marketplace. It’s also good news for every other insured Texan because the larger pool of insured people helps control the costs of rising premiums. With access to coverage, people are more likely to seek care in a timely manner. We know that access to prevention and early intervention can improve well-being and overall health. By catching potential health problems early, we can also better manage the cost of care.” Barclay Berdan, CEO of Arlington-based Texas Health Resources

“Hospitals within the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council and throughout the nation are glad the high court supported the arguments of the government. For Texas, this means almost one million of our fellow citizens will continue receiving tax subsidies to help them purchase health insurance on the insurance marketplace because we are a federally facilitated exchange. This is very important for Texas as we lead the nation in the amount of uninsured citizens and we did not expand Medicaid. Many working Texans struggle to make monthly expenses and cannot afford health care. Hopefully, we can continue our efforts to provide coverage and access for our fellow citizens.” W. Stephen Love, president/CEO for the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council

“I think they were doomed no matter what. If they had ruled the other way it would have been chaotic. On this side it is business as usual, but we haven’t solved the biggest issue and that is the middle class is paying a higher proportionate share based on their income.” Jackie Spragins, an individual health agent with Fort Worth-based Higginbotham and past president of the Texas Association of Health Underwriters

“It can be debated on all sides, but they ruled and it is the law of the land and we will all abide by the law. A lot of Texans who enrolled will be able to keep the health care options that work best for their family. I think the Affordable Care Act permitted a lot of low-income families to purchase insurance that they couldn’t purchased prior to the act.” Tim McKinney, president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County

“The decision by the Supreme Court is flat wrong! The law clearly states that in order for an individual to receive a subsidy, that individual has to obtain his or her health insurance through a health exchange set up by a state — i.e. Texas. The Supreme Court is not interpreting the law and upholding the Constitution, it is setting social policy according to the whim of the justices. In my opinion, this is wrong.” U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, whose district includes parts of Arlington

“Now that this ruling has been cemented in stone by the highest court of the land, it is my hope that House Republicans can finally move past their partisan obsession with obstructing and dismantling the Affordable Care Act and begin to work with House Democrats on responsible and bipartisan efforts to lower health care costs, create jobs, and strengthen our economy.” U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth

“Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, ObamaCare has had a deeply negative impact on my constituents’ personal health care and our nation’s health care system. The law raised taxes, forced many Americans to change their insurance, reduced coverage options and imposed new government mandates on the American people. I remain committed to working to make high quality healthcare affordable and accessible to my constituents.” U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth

“I am deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court did not stop this statute from being used beyond its constitutional boundaries. I still believe that the president broke the law — plain and simple. But regardless, President Obama’s health care law is still hurting millions of families and patients. I remain fully committed to preventing its further disruption in the health market, creating more freedom for states and patients to avoid federal health mandates, and replacing its most egregious intrusions into the doctor-patient relationship.” U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville

“The Supreme Court abandoned the Constitution to resuscitate a failing healthcare law. Today’s action underscores why it is now more important than ever to ensure we elect a President who will repeal Obamacare and enact real healthcare reforms.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

“It’s fine if Greg Abbott wants to disagree. He doesn’t have to ever like Obamacare. But Abbott isn’t doing Texans any good by throwing a never-ending political temper tantrum over it. ... If Greg Abbott really is a fiscal conservative, if he actually respects Texas taxpayers, then he would dry his eyes and get to work on a Texas healthcare plan that helps Texans benefit from Obamacare rather than subsidize healthcare in New York, California, and other states.” Matt Angle, founder and director of the Lone Star Project, a Democratic political action committee

“Despite non-stop partisan, political attacks on the Affordable Care Act, thousands in our communities and across our state have affordable health insurance coverage. Now that this decision has been made and this issue is behind us, we can move forward and get even more Texans enrolled in affordable health care plans.” State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie

“I am extremely disappointed that the Supreme Court of the United States has once again sided with President Obama’s disastrous healthcare legislation. … The Affordable Care Act is broken and a burden to not only Texas, but our entire country. This failed federal mandate will continue to bring increased costs to states and individuals. We need more flexibility, not mandates, to improve our healthcare system.” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

“Unfortunately today’s decision doesn’t change the fact that Obamacare is broken. Texans are faced with the reality of skyrocketing premiums that could rise as much as 64 percent next year as a result of this law. Democrats can celebrate today, but they do so at the expense of millions of hardworking Americans who have suffered because of Obamacare.” Republican Party of Texas Chairman Tom Mechler

Staff writers Steve Kaskovich and Max B. Baker contributed to this report.

This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 1:05 PM with the headline "Texans react to Supreme Court ruling upholding health care subsidies."