RE: Just heard on WABC that the court is not going to take it up
So, what would be the final state of Obamacare if the SCOTUS refuses to take it up?
Unconstitutional, all of it.
I was hoping someone smart could answer that. I assume the last highest court that has ruled on it would be what stands
My understanding is that Judge Vinson originally gave the strongest smack-down of ObamaCare, by ruling that the individual mandate was unconstitutional AND the law was not 'severable' so the entire law had to be struck down.
The 11th Circuit decision said Vinson was only HALF RIGHT. The individual mandate was still unconstitutional, but the huge power grab of one-sixth of the US economy by the federal government could remain intact.
IMO, Obama still wins if SCOTUS lets the 11th Circuit ruling remain as-is, because more than anything Obama wants his federal power-grab to stay in place. He will demand more taxes 'on the rich' to replace the lost funding. He might even prefer that, in order to shield 'his voters' from paying their fair share of health care costs. He could even sound like a hero, trying to 'balance the budget'.
Plus, he could at the same time, use the IRS and other agencies to punish and harass those who won't comply.
Also, Obama does not seem to care much if he trashes our national debt; He could default on that if/when necessary.
Ultimate power is Obama's greater goal.