Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Reform Law (미국대법원, 오바마에게 승리를 안기다)

 

The U.S. Supreme Court handed President Barack Obama a major victory, upholding the key part of his controversial health care plan in a 5-4 decision.

The so-called "individual mandate" requires Americans to purchase heath insurance or face a financial penalty.  Chief Justice John Roberts ruled with the court's more liberal justices, writing in his majority opinion that "because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our [the court's] role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness.''  

The Obama administration had argued the "individual mandate" was constitutional because all Americans will need medical care at some point in their lives -- individuals do not choose to participate in the health care market.

Twenty-six states filed suit against the reform law, contending that individuals cannot be forced to buy insurance, a product they may neither want nor need.