Gov. Gregoire�s statement on Florida judge�s ruling

For Immediate Release: January 31, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement in response to U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson�s ruling that the health care reform bill signed into law by President Barack Obama last March is unconstitutional:

�There�s no question I�m disappointed in today�s ruling. Not only did Judge Vinson rule against the individual mandate, he declared the entire law unconstitutional. This ruling, as I have stated all along, is not good for Washingtonians.

�This means that nearly 900,000 seniors in Washington who have Medicare coverage will be forced to pay more for regular check-ups and important preventive services, like mammograms and colonoscopies. It means the more than 45,000 Washington Medicare beneficiaries who received a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate to help pay for prescription drugs may be forced to give that benefit back. In addition, they�d lose out on the 50 percent discounts on certain prescription drugs.

�Nationally, it means up to 4 million small businesses lose out on $40 billion worth of tax credits to defray employee health-care costs. It puts at risk those with preexisting conditions who can now be denied health coverage by insurance companies. It means young adults and families will no longer have the peace of mind knowing that children up to the age of 26 could be covered under their parents health insurance plan. And it means people with insurance will continue to pay more than their fair share to cover the costs of the uninsured.

�The fact is � the Affordable Care Act is good for Washingtonians, and it�s good for business. Individuals who can afford to get a benefit, but are unwilling to pay their fair share of the cost of that benefit, are getting �something for nothing� and the rest of society is subsidizing them.

�Washington state is proof of that. As a major purchaser of both health care services and health insurance, our state budget has been severely impacted by the spiraling costs of services and insurance and declining access to affordable care. In recent years, health-related costs have accounted for up to one third of the state�s general spending.

�I continue to champion health reform in Washington state to ensure that Washingtonians have access to high-quality, affordable health services. The Affordable Care Act ensures that the federal government is an active partner for states like Washington. Today�s decision is just one of many pending lawsuits that that are being decided. I am confident at the end of the day, the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act will be upheld.�