USA Today reports:
The Trump administration told a federal court late Monday that it would ask judges to toss out the entire Affordable Care Act, a decision that cast further uncertainty over the future of a federal law that has extended health insurance to millions of Americans.
Justice Department attorneys said in a letter filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans that a lower court’s ruling the health law is unconstitutional “should be affirmed” and that the “United States is not urging that any portion of the district court’s judgement be reversed.”
A coalition of Republican-led states brought a lawsuit, Texas v United States, arguing the entire health law should be tossed out.
Vox reports:
When combined with Trump’s endorsement of the various Republican legislative plans to repeal and replace Obamacare and other regulatory actions pursued by his subordinates, the Trump administration’s clear, consistent and unequivocal position is that millions of people should lose their health insurance and that people should not be protected from discrimination based on their medical history.
The Justice Department had previously said that only the ACA’s prohibition on health insurers denying people coverage or charging people higher premiums based on their medical history should fall in the lawsuit being brought by 20 Republican-led states. But their latest brief removed that subtlety, saying that the entire law should go.
This is outrageous and shows exactly where this President is coming from. Millions of Americans would lose their health care if this administration had their way: In shift, Trump administration backs judge’s ruling that would kill Obamacare – POLITICO https://t.co/hgGRvGauYi
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) March 26, 2019
The Trump admin is trying to take away healthcare from millions of Americans.
Those with preexisting conditions.
Who have cancer.
Mental health needs.
Asthma.
Are pregnant.
Who cannot otherwise afford basic preventative care.We cannot stand for this. https://t.co/Wk8VjNfk6J
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 26, 2019
New: The Trump Justice Department now says the courts should strike down the entire Affordable Care Act — not just its protections for pre-existing conditions. The Trump admin wants to strike down the entire law. https://t.co/VjZ6EtYzom
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 26, 2019