Leaders respond to health care decision. Want partisan? You got it.

Posted: Jun 28, 2012 1:51 PM EDT Updated: Jun 28, 2012 8:44 PM EDT

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - We've been gathering reaction from our representatives on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act.

Here's what many of our leaders have to say:

United States Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
"The Court has now fulfilled its obligation as final arbiter of the constitutionality of the President's health care law, and I thank them for their service.  While the Court has been reviewing this law for months, American families and businesses have been reviewing it for years, and they have rendered their verdict as well.  People on both sides of the health care debate will spend the days and weeks to come discussing the impact of today's ruling, but a few things remain clear: our health care system is broken, costs remain unchecked, and outcomes are not improving.  I remain committed to addressing these concerns and fulfilling our obligation to the American people to lower health care costs, expand coverage and choice, and build on the innovation that sets America apart from the rest of the world."

NC Governor Bev Perdue (D)
 "This morning's Supreme Court ruling will be welcome news for the approximately 95,000 young people ages 19 to 25 who will be able to stay on their family's health insurance plan because of this law. It's welcome news for the approximately 539,000 North Carolina children with preexisting medical conditions, because this law prevents insurance companies from denying these children coverage. And it's welcome news for women in North Carolina, who will get preventative health services, like cervical cancer screenings, mammograms, well-woman visits and domestic violence screenings; for seniors, who will benefit from a stronger Medicare and from more affordable prescription drugs; and for families, who will no longer have to worry constantly about having their coverage canceled or about being harmed by lifetime caps on patient care. I am committed to continuing to move forward, and to keep fighting to ensure that all North Carolinians have affordable, reliable health coverage that they can count on."

7th District Congressman Mike McIntyre (D)
"He (Chief Justice John Roberts, who cast a swing vote to uphold the law) said this amounts to a tax. As many people know I have always been against raising taxes and I did not favor this bill from the beginning, because I do not favor putting mandates and additional tax burdens on our businesses that are, as we all know, are trying to create jobs and save jobs or putting individual mandates on families when they have enough tax burdens on themselves already."
McIntyre said over the phone that Congress will be going through the bill to get rid of onerous positions in July, but also look at the positive aspects.  He includes the coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and coverage for people up to the age of 26 on their parent's insurance among the positive aspects.
McIntyre says he will vote for repeal again when Congress takes that up for consideration in July.

7th District Congressional Candidate David Rouzer (R)
"The Supreme Court's decision today strikes at the soul of America -- our freedom.  The door is now open for the federal government to control every aspect of our lives as long as any proposed legislation is a "tax".  Just because the law has been ruled constitutional doesn't mean it is good.  Obamacare is increasing the cost of healthcare and making it more difficult for many to receive quality care.  Many doctors are privately seeking their exit from the profession.  Businesses are not hiring because of the increased cost of health coverage under Obamacare. We need less government control in healthcare so that individuals and families can afford to receive quality care.  Only the free market produces the very best product for the lowest possible price."
NC Gubernatorial Candidate Pat McCrory (R)

"Today's decision by the Supreme Court is disappointing and upholds a law that I believe is the wrong approach for the people of North Carolina. This decision reaffirms what we already knew: the national healthcare law supported by Governor Perdue and Lt. Governor Dalton is a tax on North Carolinians. It greatly concerns me that I hear from small business owners in North Carolina that they will not hire more workers because of the costs of this healthcare plan. Our state has one of the worst economies in the country and the last thing our small businesses need is another major impediment to growing their businesses. I hope Congress and our next President can successfully overturn the law and replace it with healthcare reform that is less partisan, divisive, and doesn't put the federal government between doctors and patients."
3rd District Congressman Walter B. Jones (R)

"This is a sad day for liberty in America. Today a slim majority of the Supreme Court decreed that the federal government can use the power of taxation to force Americans to do whatever it wants.  That is outrageous. In fact, in his majority opinion Chief Justice John Roberts went so far as to state that the federal government also had the power to tax ‘every taxpayer who owns a house without energy efficient windows.' This should be a wake-up call for Americans.  Their freedoms are rapidly being stripped away by an increasingly socialist government.  We are headed down a dangerous path, and the only hope for reversing this course is through the ballot box in November." 
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