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Both members of Iredell County’s contingent to the U.S. House of Representatives were hoping a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court would take some of the wind from the sails of the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as "Obamacare."

Through emails, both said they were disappointed on Thursday when the Supreme Court ruled, in a case known as King v. Burwell, that federal tax subsidies could be used by some Americans to defer the cost of healthcare, regardless of whether they live in a state that established its own insurance exchange.

“The Supreme Court found Obamacare’s language to be ambiguous, yet President Obama’s promises were quite clear,” said Rep. Robert Pittenger, whose 9th District takes in much of the southern portion of Iredell, including Mooresville. “He promised we could keep our health plan, yet nearly 500,000 North Carolinians received cancellation notices due to Obamacare. He promised to lower premiums by $2,500 for the typical family, yet Blue Cross has requested a 25 percent increase for Obamacare plans in North Carolina.”

Pittenger’s comment about the ambiguous language was an allusion to a four-word clause on which the case hinged -- "established by the state” -- in reference to the exchanges.

But many states, including North Carolina, did not establish insurance-purchasing exchanges. And those opposed to the Affordable Care Act from these states were hopeful that the King v. Burwell decision would create a chink in the armor large enough to lead to the dismantling of the entire body of legislation.

But the court’s decision did not change Pittenger’s opinion of the act.

“Notwithstanding the legality of Obamacare,” he said, “President Obama’s health care law has been a disaster for the American people.”

Pittenger said he and his lawmaking colleagues on Capital Hill must continue working from a legislative position to bring about the demise of the act.   

“We must repeal Obamacare,” he said, “and replace it with common-sense, market-based reform that actually lowers costs, allows freedom of choice, provides a safety net for those truly in need, and ends President Obama’s system of higher taxes and fines.”

Rep. Virginia Foxx has been an opponent of Obamacare since it was first talked about not long after the President’s election. She said that since its 2013 implementation she has had many complaints from those she represents regarding the legislation.

“For the past two years, my email inbox, mailbox and phone lines have been flooded with reports of canceled health insurance plans, soaring premiums, increased deductibles and frustrated constituents trying to navigate the confusing Washington bureaucracy that is Obamacare,” said Foxx, whose 5th District takes in much of northern Iredell, including Statesville.

Foxx said the very name of the legislation is a misnomer.

“Despite its central promise,” she said, “the Affordable Care Act has proved to be anything but affordable for many North Carolinians, and today’s Supreme Court decision doesn’t change that fact.”

Like Pittenger, Foxx said the whole thing has to go and it's up to legislators to scrap it.

“Rather than making piecemeal fixes, the best approach to solving the multitude of problems resulting from Obamacare is to unite behind a complete repeal of the law,” she said. “And replace it with solutions that lower costs and empower patients to choose the care that’s right for them.”

http://www.statesville.com/news/supreme-court-ruling-rankles-iredell-reps/article_f1015546-1b79-11e5-bdd0-4bf45d2a6ded.html