U.S Rep. Jeff Miller's thoughts on SCOTUS's big week


  • June 29, 2015
  • /   Shannon Nickinson
  • /   government

In an email to constituents, U.S. Rep Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla, shared his thoughts about the two landmark rulings issued by the U.S. Supreme Court last week.

The court upheld the legality of tax credits issued for people using the Affordable Care Act to get health insurance coverage in states that did not set up their own exchanges. That decision was 6-3, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing the majority opinion.

The court also found in favor of same-sex marriage in a case that makes those marriages legal in all 50 states. That decision was 5-4, with Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy writing the majority opinion.

Here is what Miller, who is rumored to be considering a run for Marco Rubio's U.S. Senate seat, wrote about each of those cases in his "Washington Update" electronic newsletter:

Supreme Court Rulings Last week, the Supreme Court issued decisions, that I fundamentally disagree with, in two highly anticipated cases: King v. Burwell and Obergefell v. Hodges.

On Thursday, the court issued its decision in the King v. Burwell case, which challenged the law’s tax credits and subsidies. Despite the clear language in the law, which states that credits are only available for individuals who purchase their insurance on an “Exchange established by the State,” the Supreme Court's ruling last week in contravention of the of the law upholds the tax subsidies for federal exchanges established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Despite the outcome of King v. Burwell, it is abundantly clear that Obamacare is an unmitigated failure that is increasing health care costs, decreasing choice, and hampering economic growth and job creation. I continue to hear from constituents throughout Florida’s First Congressional District who are negatively impacted by the law, and I remain committed to fully repealing Obamacare and replacing it with free-market solutions that empower patients and healthcare professionals and drive innovation in the industry. Friday, the court issued a sweeping ruling that fundamentally ignores the principal of federalism and the separation of powers that are at the heart of our Constitutional system with its decision in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges that strikes down laws enacted by many states, including Florida, banning same-sex marriage. As a Christian, I believe that marriage is a sacred vow between one man and one woman, a view that is widely held in the state of Florida, as evidenced by the fact that 62 percent of Floridians voted in 2008 to approve a Constitutional amendment banning both same-sex marriage and civil unions. I joined nearly 60 of my colleagues in filing an amicus brief with the court outlining the many reasons why the federal government should respect the will of the people of Florida and other states and not overturn these state same-sex marriage bans. Simply put, the Supreme Court is not a legislative body, and I am extremely disappointed that they have chosen to impose their views, rather than allow the citizens of the States to decide this important issue through the democratic process.
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