Two Federal appellate courts ruled on Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies in most states. So are they legal? No, repeat Yes.
Two judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said they’re not, so poor people in states too lazy to set up their own insurance exchanges have to pay as much as wealthier folks for health insurance, making the law the Unaffordable Care Act.
Hours later the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond decided not to punish the poor just because Congress can’t write clearly. The ultimate rationale for the Fourth Circuit’s decision? Pizza. Federal Judge Roger Gregory explained:
“If I ask for pizza from Pizza Hut for lunch but clarify that I would be fine with a pizza from Domino’s, and I then specify that I want ham and pepperoni on my pizza from Pizza Hut, my friend who returns from Domino’s with a ham and pepperoni pizza has still complied with a literal construction of my lunch order.”
“Judge Uses Domino’s Pizza to Explain Obamacare Exchanges,” Arit John, The Wire
Looks like Pappa John’s CEO John Schnatter has another reason to hate Obamacare.
The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear the case in a few months, and the issue may make it to the Supreme Court in a couple of years.
More:
“Here’s what Obamacare’s authors said they actually meant,” Emily Badger, Washington Post
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Tags: ACA, Affordable Care Act, appeals courts, health care, insurance subsidies, pizza
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