Alaska Delegation responds to Supreme Courth Decision
After the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision today to uphold the majority of health care reform, the reaction from Alaska's political leaders was swift and divided. The decision is particularly meaningful to Alaskans - 125 thousand people - 18 percent of the state's population - are uninsured. Additionally, Alaskans have fewer private health care options than many of the larger U.S. states. Senator Mark Begich came out in favor of reform, saying that although the Affordable Care Act isn't perfect, it's far better than the status quo. But Senator Lisa Murkowski and Representative Don Young disagreed - they say the reform adds up to a burdensome tax on Alaskans, and they'll work to repeal it. Governor Sean Parnell says his administration is taking a wait-and-see attitude on the reform - he says he plans to try and shift as much of the burden of implementing the policy to the federal government.