The Daily Sentinel - Tipton, Gardner Say They Want Repeal of Affordable Care Act

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By Gary Harmon

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling Thursday doesn't fix the Affordable Care Act's flaws, U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., said.

The court's 6-3 finding "does not change the fact that Obamacare has failed to meet the basic but critical goals of affordability and accessibility," Tipton said in a statement. "We continue to work in the House to repeal the president's failed health care law and replace it with patient-centered, market-driven solutions that ensure all Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health care."

Under the ACA, millions of Americans have "lost access to their preferred health care plans, are seeing their out-of-pocket costs and premiums skyrocket, and are finding that accessing care is becoming increasingly difficult," Tipton said.

Colorado's senators, meanwhile, took opposing tacks on the high court's ruling that left intact subsidies in states with federal health insurance exchanges.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, welcomed the 6-3 ruling and Cory Gardner, a Republican, called it a bail-out for "partisan legislation."

"Today's decision bails out the careless, reckless authors of a law that has done real damage to our health care system," Gardner said in a statement. "Obamacare's problems, however, are not merely the result of poor writing. Even if perfectly authored, a government takeover of health care would be the wrong prescription for America. I remain committed to repealing Obamacare and replacing it with common sense reforms that control costs, expand access to care, and protect the doctor-patient relationship."

Bennet said he hoped the ruling "will allow us to move past the divisive politics on this issue and toward working together on behalf of the American people. It is not perfect, but the Affordable Care Act has helped more than 600,000 Coloradans and millions of Americans gain access to health care. Both parties should find ways to improve the law, and I am open to any ideas that would make our health care system work better for middle-class families."

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