Political experts say Democratic leaders and supporters of the healthcare reform law may have a new opportunity if the Supreme Court decides to strike down the healthcare reform law's individual mandate, according to a Politico report.
Next week the Supreme Court will decide whether it will hear one or all challenges against the individual mandate. Since it is highly expected to hear arguments over the contentious provision, oral arguments could be heard as early as this spring with a final ruling scheduled before the high court's session expires in June.
A potential dismissal of the individual mandate would be a blow to President Obama in the midst of his campaign for the 2012 election. However, political experts say Democrats could find a "new opportunity" if the high courts decides to strike down the mandate by strengthening the rest of the reform law and gaining greater public support.
According to a poll conducted by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in March, 67 percent of respondents wanted a repeal of the individual mandate, while 27 percent supported the mandate. The numbers suggest it is a highly unpopular provision among consumers. On the other hand, public consumers seem to support other provisions under the health reform law, such as free preventive screenings, according to the report.
Still, other political experts believe a Supreme Court ruling would do little to change a long-established public opinion of the reform law and would more likely shake confidence in the president's judgment, according to the report.
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Next week the Supreme Court will decide whether it will hear one or all challenges against the individual mandate. Since it is highly expected to hear arguments over the contentious provision, oral arguments could be heard as early as this spring with a final ruling scheduled before the high court's session expires in June.
A potential dismissal of the individual mandate would be a blow to President Obama in the midst of his campaign for the 2012 election. However, political experts say Democrats could find a "new opportunity" if the high courts decides to strike down the mandate by strengthening the rest of the reform law and gaining greater public support.
According to a poll conducted by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in March, 67 percent of respondents wanted a repeal of the individual mandate, while 27 percent supported the mandate. The numbers suggest it is a highly unpopular provision among consumers. On the other hand, public consumers seem to support other provisions under the health reform law, such as free preventive screenings, according to the report.
Still, other political experts believe a Supreme Court ruling would do little to change a long-established public opinion of the reform law and would more likely shake confidence in the president's judgment, according to the report.
Related Articles on the Healthcare Reform Law:
Public Democratic Support of Healthcare Reform DropsAHA, Others Urge Supreme Court to Grant Federal Review of Health Reform Lawsuit
Physicians' Group Files Amicus Brief, Says Courts Can't Strike Coverage Mandate Without Striking Entire Reform Law