Roberts' ruling today just affirmed the greatest expansion of Federal power in history. Fedzilla's power to tax is now unlimited. It can even tax you for *not* engaging in an activity.
Restricting federal power? You must be joking!
Not only that, but the power to tax is no longer the sole prerogative of Congress. Robert's decision effectively gives the SCOTUS the power to tax, since it can decide that something is a tax even if Congress expressly stated that it isn't a tax. This is Fedzilla on steroids and bath salts and it's about to eat your face off.
As I understand it, he ruled that the penalty is a tax, not that it's a legal tax. I don't think the SC can rule on whether a tax is legal until (i) somebody has actually paid the tax, and (ii) that person has asked the SC to determine its legality. Of course, I don't know on what theory this tax would be found unconstitutional.
Thank you, right on! We lost and lost big. The first step is to admit it there is a problem before you can try to fix it.
“Restricting federal power? You must be joking!”
On this we agree. In no way does Roberts convoluted ruling do that. It just makes him look stupid. Now a “penalty” is called a “tax.”
Roberts is just interested in “making his mark.” Well, he did. And many of us have marked him as a dipstick!
Interesting point is that your boy Romney has held up Roberts as the kind of jurist he would appoint. One more reason NOT to vote for Romney.