Graham on Supreme Court ‘Tax’ Ruling on Obamacare
June 28, 2012
WASHINGTON – June 28, 2012 – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SouthCarolina) today made this statement on the Supreme Court decision rulingthat the individual mandate is a ‘Tax.’
“To our Democratic colleagues, stand by your tax increase or stand with us to Repeal and Replace Obamacare.
“During the entire congressional debate over Obamcare, Democratsvehemently denied this was a tax on the American people. The ObamaAdministration also denied it was a tax. However, when the case went toCourt, they argued, for constitutional purposes, it was a tax.
“I have always believed the individual mandate would not be upheld underthe Commerce Clause because you cannot compel someone to enter intocommerce. However, I have always been afraid the broad power to taxcould be used by the Court to justify Obamacare.
“The problem for the American people is this is a massive tax increaseat a time they can least afford it and Obamacare will jeopardize thequality and accessibility of health care.
“Now Congress has a chance to Repeal and Replace Obamacare, one of thelargest tax increases on the American people, with common-sense healthcare reform we can afford. I am glad I voted against one of the largesttax increases on the American people in modern history for the purposeof creating government-controlled health care.
“The question for Congress is — Did you intend to tax the Americanpeople by hundreds of billions of dollars to create agovernment-controlled health care system or not?
“I am urging the Republican leadership to immediately insist on debatingwhether or not Obamacare is in fact a tax in the eyes of thepoliticians who proposed the legislation. If it was never meant to be atax, they should immediately Repeal and Replace this bill.”
