Court strikes down parts of Obamacare

Congressman Joe Pitts, R-PA-16th, incoming Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, praised today's ruling in Virginia District Court striking down portions of Obamacare. Last week, after the House Republican Conference appointed Congressman Fred Upton (MI-06) Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the 112th Congress, Pitts was tapped to chair the Subcommittee next year.

Rep. Pitts' statement:

"It shouldn't come as a surprise that a federal judge has determined that Obamacare's individual mandate to purchase insurance is unconstitutional. Early this year, Republicans warned that the law went too far, trampling on the individual rights protected in the Constitution. Democrats chose to ignore these concerns, and now the courts are working to protect the people from this legislative overreach.

"This certainly isn't the end of court battles, and it only reinforces the need to repeal the law as soon as possible. The many other provisions of Obamacare continue to damage our healthcare system, raising costs and disrupting access to care. I'm working closely with Chairman Upton and Republican leadership on our strategy for wholesale repeal of the law. Both Congress and the courts have a responsibility to uphold the Constitution."