WISCONSIN — Today, June 17 at 1:30PM CT Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Wisconsin residents, along with Protect Our Care Wisconsin and Citizen Action of Wisconsin held a press call to react to the Supreme Court decision in California v. Texas, the Trump-Republican lawsuit to overturn the ACA.
In an 7-2 ruling released this morning, the Supreme Court delivered a massive repudiation of the Republican war on health care. By throwing the lawsuit out on standing, the court protected the health care coverage of more than 20 million Americans and prevented more than 135 million people with pre-existing conditions from losing the protections they rely on, and many other key ACA provisions.
The decision to affirm the ACA should mean the end of the road for Republicans’ endless attacks on the law and increases the momentum behind President Biden’s and the Democratic majorities in Congress to deliver on their health care agenda that voters elected them to enact.
“This decision will literally save lives,” said Attorney General Kaul, noting this is the third time the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Attorney General Kaul and Governor Tony Evers played critical roles in removing Wisconsin from the lawsuit. During the call, Kaul also called on Congress to make enhancements to the ACA under the American Rescue Plan permanent and added, “it is clear that the ACA is going to remain in place – it is time for our legislature to finally do the right thing and expand Medicaid.”
Lillian Cheesman, a West Allis resident, shared that the ACA has enable her to become a practicing attorney and small business owner – a reality once unfathomable. “With the Affordable Care Act I don’t have to worry about being able to afford healthcare,” she said before adding “I am incredibly relieved that the ACA has been defended once again.”
David Marstellar of Milwaukee, who survived congestive heart failure before ultimately undergoing a successful heart transplant was straightforward in his remarks, “The ACA saved my life,” he said, noting the difficulty affording coverage would be without the ACA’s protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
Vik Verma, a Merrill resident, shared the story of the serious car accident he was injured in four years ago and noted that had he been forced to pay out of pocket for the life-saving care he received, the total bill would have been $450,000. Under the ACA’s consumer protections which include annual and lifetime caps Verma was able to recover without sacrificing his economic security.
You can listen to the full press call recording
here.
