Governor, Other Oklahoma Leaders Unhappy With High Court's Health Care Ruling

Gov. Mary Fallin and other Oklahoma leaders say they're disappointed, disturbed and frustrated by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the bulk of President Obama's health care overhaul.

Fallin issued this statement:

"Oklahomans have voiced their opposition to the federal health care bill from the very beginning, having approved a constitutional amendment to block the implementation of this bill in our state. We believe that, rather than Big Government bureaucracy and one-size-fits-all solutions, the free-market principles of choice and competition are the best tools at our disposal to increase access to health care and reduce costs.

I'm extremely disappointed and frustrated by the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the federal health care law. President Obama's health care policies will limit patients' health care choices, reduce the quality of health care in the United States, and will cost the state of Oklahoma more than a half billion dollars in the process.

Today's decision highlights the importance of electing leaders who will work to repeal the federal health care law and replace it with meaningful reform focused on commonsense, market based changes."

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Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt was in Washington D.C. at the court session when the ruling was announced Thursday. He's there to testify before a Congressional committee. Oklahoma filed a lawsuit against the health care act in January 2011, along with 25 other states. Pruitt says the battle against the law is not over.

"We're disappointed the Court upheld the individual mandate, and find it disturbing that they did not place a limit on the power of the federal government to control the lives of Americans," said Pruitt. "It is now up to the political process to repeal the act and replace it with measures that address the health care crisis within the confines of the Constitution. We must continue to oppose this act and multiple overreaching regulations proposed by the Obama Administration that cross the line of federal power."

6/28/12 Related Story: U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Individual Mandate In President's Health Care Reform Act

Oklahoma House Speaker Kris Steele also issued a statement following the high court's ruling. He said the decision suggests the federal government is more powerful than an individual, which is exactly opposite of our nation's founding principles.

"This was a deeply divided opinion, with the dissenting justices explaining precisely why Oklahoma has opposed this law from the beginning," said Steele. "The constitutional concerns that led Oklahoma to tread carefully with policy decisions on all elements of this law – big and small – have proven valid, given the narrowly split opinion. Our best hope now is to elect those willing to repeal this law and work together to find better solutions to the significant health care challenges faced by our state and nation."