[UPDATED] White Plains Leaders React to ‘Obamacare’ Decision

Positive or negative, local politicians and leaders are all talking about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a key part of President Barack Obama’s health care reform, The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act. 

Click for a story on the decision, and here for more information on the law.

Check out what your local leaders are saying, and tell us what you think in the comments below:

White Plains Councilman John Martin—who has owned All New York Title Agency in White Plains since 1995, which has about 17 employees— said:

 “As a small business owner, we have faced double-digit increases in our employee health insurance costs for several years now. When the legislation passed something had to be done, and our hope was that  it would bring some relief to small business owners, because we want to keep providing this coverage for our people. I feel that with the type of increases we are seeing every year, we could not be able to continue. So, the fact that it was upheld in large part continues our hope that we will see some relief with health insurance costs, so we can continue tor provide the coverage for our employees.” 

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), whose seat is up for election in November, issued the following statement:

 “I am pleased the Supreme Court reaffirmed the hard fought progress that was made to ensure that no one can be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing condition, young adults will be covered, prescription drug costs for seniors will be reduced, preventive care including life-saving mammograms will be accessible and that insurance companies can’t cancel their coverage when you get sick. It is time to get beyond scoring political points and get back to finding common core values and passing legislation that will help grow our economy and get more people back to work.”

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U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D, NY District 18), who will run in November to keep her seat, which will become District 17, said:

“I am pleased the Supreme Court today upheld the Affordable Care Act, protecting access to health insurance and quality of coverage for millions of Americans.  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.  I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve the law and make health care more affordable for New Yorkers.”

Her opponent and Rye Town supervisor Joe Carvin, whose brother Michael Carvin argued against the constitutionality of the law in front of the Supreme Court, said in a press release:

"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. Obamacare is unaffordable to a nation on a perilous path toward effective bankruptcy.  As a member of Congress, I will work to overturn this fundamentally flawed law."

New York State Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli (R, C – Goldens Bridge), who will face off against Democratic candidate and White Plains Councilman David Buchwald for the newly formed 93^rd Assembly seat, said:

“I was surprised and disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision. While I support some aspects of the Obama health care plan, I believe that it would have been in the best interests of the nation to strike down the mandatory requirement. At a time when the nation is facing an economic crisis second only to the Great Depression, this was not the time to increase the national debt by more than a trillion dollars. Other more viable options could have, and should have been considered.”

Editor's Note: Updated at 2 p.m.

Mary Beth Walsh, MD, who is the CEO & Medical Director at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains commented:

"Burke Rehabilitation Hospital recognizes that the Supreme Court decision makes it possible to extend coverage to the nearly 30 million Americans who are currently without medical insurance. Insurance will be made more affordable, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions who had been effectively shut out of the health insurance marketplace. This decision will also continue to pressure health care providers to reduce health care costs and improve patient care through technology and innovation. Hospitals in New York have been making these changes in recent years, even as we face deep cuts in reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers. Although the future will be challenging with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Burke will continue to provide the high level of rehabilitation programs and services that we have for the past 97 years. We look forward to addressing and meeting these new challenges within the dynamic and ever changing landscape of healthcare in the United States."

Editor's Note: Updated at 2:30 p.m.

NY State Assemblywoman , (D-Scarsdale,) who represents the 88th district, issued the following statement today, supporting the SCOTUS action.

"While we don't yet know all of the implications of today’s Supreme Court decision, it is clear we will be able to expand health care coverage to more Americans and more New Yorkers," Paulin stated. "People from all walks of life are struggling to provide health care coverage for their families, or are simply doing without it. Right here in Westchester County, in some of the most affluent areas, residents have lost their jobs and with that health insurance for their loved ones. The Supreme Court decision means these families will no longer have to worry."

The national group Stop the HIT (Health Insurance Tax) is not pleased with the ruling. Duane Musser, Vice President of Government Relations with the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), a member of the Stop The HIT Coalition said:

“The HIT on small business, unless it is repealed before 2014, will make the cost of health care even more unrealistic for millions of small business owners and their employees. Members of Congress who are serious about improving the state of our economy should act quickly to pass current, bipartisan legislation repealing this costly and burdensome tax on our nation’s top job creators." 

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