Washington, DC — Independent Women’s Voice Health Policy Director Hadley Heath Manning released the following statement following a federal judge ruling against the administration in a challenge to a portion of the Affordable Care Act:
"A federal judge has ruled that the Obama administration cannot violate the rule of law and illegally spend tens of billions of dollars to prop up its failing health care program. Despite the clear letter of the law, the Obama administration has been blatantly violating the Constitution’s Separation of Powers in paying cost-sharing subsidies without an appropriation from Congress, spending that would total $130 billion over 10 years.
"U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary M. Collyer called a halt to the Obama Administration illegal funding of this ObamaCare subsidy program. Contrary to the headlines, low-income people will continue to qualify for more generous coverage since the judge stayed her order pending an inevitable appeal. It is Big Insurance that will not be paid additional taxpayer money since – and this is not a small detail – Congress never appropriated funding for this blank check to insurance companies.
"This decision is a win for American citizens who have been devastated by ObamaCare's premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and reduced choices. By refusing to allow the Administration to throw good money after bad to prop up its already-failing program, this will only hasten the much needed reconsideration of legislation to repeal and replace ObamaCare to make better health care broadly and affordably available. And it is a timely reminder that this is not a monarchy, but a democracy, and there are limits to executive power."
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Independent Women's Voice is a 501(c)(4) fights for women and families by expanding support for, and then winning, policy and political campaigns that advance prosperity, freedom, and greater choices. IWV is an affiliate organization of the Independent Women's Forum.