The Supreme Court announced on Monday that they will hear the case against the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010, often called Obamacare by critics.

The nation’s highest court will rule on the constitutionality of a mandate that most American buy health care by 2014; and on Medicare expansion that some argued was coercive against the states.

The heavily-debated and highly-watched decision could come in March 2012, right in the middle of President Obama‘s reelection campaign. The Washington Post notes the cases constitutional impact and timing would “likely make it the court’s most high-profile ruling since Bush v. Gore in 2000.”

However, a law called the Anti-Injunction Act prevents consumers from challenging a tax before it actually goes into effect. This law could prevent a decision from being handed down until 2014. The court will devote a portion of the oral arguments just to this aspect.

Both sides though are eager for a quick ruling that will be the final word on a law with great impact for Americans and American business. “We know the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and are confident the Supreme Court will agree,” said White House spokesman Dan Pfeiffer, according to the Post.

The lawsuit was brought about by the Attorneys General of 26 states, as well as the National Federation of Independent Business.

The court is infamously split ideologically right down the middle: four justices siding almost always with Democratic policies, and four justices siding almost always with Republican policies. The ninth, Justice Anthony Kennedy, has been the deciding vote in many cases already.

What do you think? Should the court strike down or uphold the law?

[via Politico]

Bookmark to: