Stop ACA repeal using tax reform cover

Stop ACA Repeal. Efforts by the Republican Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act have been defeated in recent months due to strong public opposition. This opposition arose from the fact that repeal of the ACA would cost over 32 million Americans their health coverage.

Now the GOP Congress is moving to repeal the ACA individual mandate as part of their so-called “tax reform” plan. All Americans should be wary of this Trojan horse attack on the ACA. In National Federation of Independent Business v Sebelius (2012), the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, found that the ACA was constitutional only because the ACA’s individual mandate was a permissible Congressional Action pursuant to Congress’ Article 1 taxing power. Repeal the tax and the ACA would now lack the one provision that led Chief Justice Roberts to find the entire law constitutional.

By repealing the individual mandate, the Republican Congress is attempting to repeal the ACA itself without the American people even being aware of it. When the Republicancontrolled courts subsequently strike down the ACA, Congress will say they aren’t responsible, as millions lose coverage and people start dying.

All conscientious Americans should oppose this disingenuous maneuver. Daryl Justin Finizio New London

Editor’s note: The author is a former mayor of New London.