JOIN USThe White House termed it as judicial activism. Giving a major blow to the historic Health Care Reform Act which was signed by Obama last year, US District Judge Roger Vinson in his judgement ruled that the so-called individual mandate exceeds congressional power.
The whole law cannot stand as the law depends on the mandate to work. “I must conclude that the individual mandate and the remaining provisions are all inextricably bound together in purpose and must stand or fall as a single unit,” said Vinson.
The Congress does not have the power to compel an individual to purchase insurance, he said. The judgement, which was immediately opposed by the White House was cheered by the opposition Republican Party, which after gaining majority in the House of Representatives repealed the bill from the House this year. “Today’s ruling is a plain case of judicial overreaching,” wrote the White House healthcare messaging guru Stephanie Cutter in a blog post.