June 28, 2012

Statement from Texas Comptroller Susan Combs on the Supreme Court’s Decision to Uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

(AUSTIN) — “I am very disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It is a bad law and bad policy. The mandate to purchase individual health insurance through a brand new tax is an attack on personal liberty. This law is a reminder of President Ronald Reagan’s warning from a quarter century ago when he said, ‘Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.’

"In addition, the law will place an enormous burden on Texas taxpayers and place a huge constraint on our budget. The Supreme Court has left open the possibility that states could opt out of Medicaid expansion without losing money for the existing Medicaid program. Opting out to slow the projected growth of Medicaid is something the Legislature may have to consider once we’ve had time to further assess this decision.”

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