Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) was the first congressman out of the gate this morning with a reaction to the DC Circuit’s ruling striking down subsidies for the federal health insurance exchange — a ruling which will almost certainly be overturned — and he hit every branch on his way down the Stupid Tree.
CRUZ: “The D.C. Circuit’s decision today in Halbig v. Burwell is a repudiation of Obamacare and all the lawlessness that has come with it. The Obama Administration, through the Internal Revenue Service, has attempted to dispense revenues to the states without proper congressional authorization, robbing Congress of its constitutionally-provided power of the purse. This decision restores power to Congress and to the people and if properly enforced, should shield citizens from Obamacare’s insidious penalties, mandates, and subsidies. This is a significant victory for the American people and the rule of law, but we must not rest. Americans will continue to lose jobs, pay higher premiums, and receive fewer healthcare choices because of this disastrous law. Every last word of Obamacare must be repealed to restore jobs, growth, and opportunity in our country.”
The idea that Congress had no intention of providing subsidies to the federal exchange is, in a word, preposterous. And yet that was the reasoning two Republican judges on the D.C. Circuit Court used in their ruling today. A ruling that was contradicted just two hours later by the 4th Circuit.
The ruling has nothing to do with ‘insidious penalties and mandates,’ but if enforced it would certainly lead to higher premiums.
Is that what Ted Cruz wants? Higher premiums? Based on this statement we can infer that Ted Cruz thinks higher premiums are a bad thing, but it’s also clear that he believes today’s ruling is a great victory for opponents of affordable healthcare. Cruz has contradicted himself within a single paragraph.
By all means, Ted Cruz should continue to campaign against repealing “every last word of Obamacare,” including the words that provide Medicaid to millions of people, keep children on their parents’ plans, and end pre-existing conditions.
Campaign on that and see how far it gets you in the general election.