Current Stories

In a surprise decision led by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court upheld the core of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Yet it was a ruling with nettles attached – calling the fines for failing to get insurance “taxes” and allowing states to opt out of expanding Medicaid eligibility. Here’s my story from June 29, 2012: Health Law Survives: Supreme Court allows government to allow all Americans to get insurance

With conservative justices expressing skepticism of the constitutionality of the health care law during an unusual three days of arguments, Democratic and Republican officials and analysts have begun looking ahead to the political fall out of the Supreme Court’s ruling, expected in June. Here is my story that ran Sunday, April 1, 2012: Ruling expected to affect undecided voters

The Supreme Court’s conservative bloc appeared more open than expected to arguments that the entire health care law should be struck down if the justices find the mandate to obtain insurance unconstitutional. The justices also seemed surprisingly open to the idea that the federal government, by offering significant funding support, was coercing states into expanding the eligibility for Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor. Here is my story on the last of the three days of arguments, published on Thursday, March 29, 2012: Heart of health debate: Entire law at stake

Conservative justices on the Supreme Court sharply questioned U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli on whether Congress went too far and exercised too much power in passing a health care law requiring every citizen to obtain health insurance – raising the possibility the conservative bloc could strike down the signature legislative achievement of President Barack Obama. Here is my Wednesday, March 28, 2012 story: Mandate debate: Conservative justices sharply question law

The Supreme Court justices appeared eager to clear the way to take on the key issue before them, the mandate to obtain health insurance, as they expressed skepticism a 19th century tax law would prohibit them from deciding the constitutional challenge to the national health care law. Here is my story that ran on Tuesday, March 27, 2012: ‘Calm Before the Storm’ – Justice seem ready to act

Many describe it as the biggest legal case in a generation. The constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, prompted the Supreme Court to hold an extraordinary three days of arguments. Here is my scene-setter on Monday, March 26, 2012, for the first day on the week of hearings: U.S. Health Care Law: The Deciders – Justices to hear arguments