Politics & Government

Rush Pleased, Peloquin 'Can't Support' Health Care Ruling

The Illinois 1st Congressional District Democrat and Republican candidates weighed in Thursday after the United States Supreme Court ruled that a major aspect of the Affordable Health Care Act is constitutional.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Thursday that the individual mandate section of the .

But for the Republican candidate aiming to take over ’s seat as the 1st District congressman in Illinois, difficulties lie ahead.

“It’s a lot more complicated than it should be to insure all Americans,” said. “I still can’t support it even though the Supreme Court ruled that the individual mandate is constitutional. It doesn’t help small businesses. It doesn’t help create jobs. And it probably will get more complex as it’s implemented.”

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Staff in Bobby Rush’s Washington D.C. office said the Democrat congressman is “pleased to hear the Supreme Court’s affirmation, and looks forward to its full implementation.”

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Peloquin foresees many challenges in taking the health care act from a written plan to a reality.

“How many businesses now will eliminate their benefit plans?” Peloquin said. “The fact that it can be a tax, what exactly will that be? How will hospitals see more revenue? What will the penalties be if you aren’t insured?”

Furthermore, if implementing the act involves more state regulation, Peloquin sees even more problems.

“I’m not confident that Springfield can create a good system,” Peloquin said. “If as a state we can’t even get pensions straightened out, and now add a burden of health care, we could be headed for trouble.”


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