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HARRISON, N.Y. Harrison and other Westchester residents had mixed reactions Thursday to the Supreme Court ruling to uphold President Barack Obamas health care law that requires all citizens to have health insurance.
Ed McCann of Harrison was not in favor of the ruling because he said health care is so expensive that to require everyone to buy it is crazy.
Its wrong to penalize people for this, McCann said in reference to his belief that only wealthy people can afford to purchase health care. The government is giving things away for free and encouraging unemployment. Its come to a point where its better to be unemployed and have everything paid for. Its ridiculous.
Im very much in favor of this ruling, said White Plains Rev. Bruce Greer, who was at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla Thursday to visit a patient in the intensive care unit. Medical costs are some of the most expensive expenditures in this country and we have to hold people accountable for those costs.
The United States Supreme Court ruling, which passed by a 5-to-4 vote Thursday morning, will require individuals to have health insurance at the risk of paying a fine. If not provided health insurance, citizens must pay for their insurance.
McCanns friend Glenn Koller said that he thinks this legislation will lead to socialism and that the government keeps adding more obstacles for people. Koller said he believes the ruling will encourage people to reelect President Barack Obama because he gave them something.
Its sad, Koller said. We should just throw all the politicians out and start from scratch. Our government has become about saving your job and personal power. Id rather have someone in office making $20,000 that actually cares about what happens to America.
Joe Carvin, Rye Town Supervisor and the recently nominated Republican candidate for the 17th Congressional District election, called the Supreme Court decision a disappointment.
Today's Supreme Court decision is deeply disappointing, but it serves to highlight two critical facts Obamacare represents the largest tax increase in U.S. history and it must be struck down legislatively by the Congress rather than through the courts, Carvin said.
Rep. Nita Lowey (R-Mt. Kisco), who represents parts of Harrison in Congress, said that she is pleased with the decision.
This decision protects the coverage of 17 million children with pre-existing conditions, 6.6 million young adults on their parents plans, and 86 million seniors and families receiving free preventive care, Lowey said. I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve the law and make health care more affordable for New Yorkers.
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