ATLANTA — Georgia State Representative Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine) issued the following statement regarding today’s Supreme Court decision in King v. Burwell:
“The decision in King v. Burwell today to continue to uphold tax subsidies in federal healthcare exchanges essentially rewrites the Affordable Care Act. This ruling is disappointing and is a violent blow to the rule of law.
There have been scores of past decisions of the Supreme Court embracing the ‘plain meaning’ doctrine of statutory construction which overflow like the Nile. Words should be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in common parlance unless the result would be absurd. There is nothing absurd or quixotic about confining federal tax subsidies to health insurance purchased over exchanges established by States. Words should have meaning.
Obamacare, as written by the Democrats in Congress, was intellectually untidy at best because it had to be passed before everyone knew what was in it. Now, we know what was in it. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court has relied upon deference in this circumstance which does a tremendous violence to the Constitution’s separation of powers by authorizing unelected partisan bureaucrats at the IRS to usurp the legislative function of Congress. As a result of this decision, the perversion of the country’s healthcare system will continue to worsen
The fight for healthcare freedom will continue in Georgia, and I stand ready to defend what shred of healthcare freedom we have left.”
Representative Jason Spencer represents the citizens of District 180, which includes Camden, Charlton, and Ware counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2010, and currently serves as the Secretary of the Special Rules Committee. He also serves on the Game Fish & Parks, Human Relations & Aging, Science and Technology, and Juvenile Justice committees.
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