Senate GOP'er Says Healthcare Debate Flying Under The Radar

By Janie Amaya

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said Tuesday at the Heritage Foundation that the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act has flown under the radar as of late, and it’s benefitting Democrats.

Hatch suggested that the individual mandate, which he said requires individuals to purchase health insurance and punishes those who don’t, is being kept under the table by some members because skepticism is mounting over the provision’s constitutionality.

“Rather than defend the law, [lawmakers] have decided to lay low and grind their way to 2014,” Hatch said. “The impact of this law on the nation’s health care system has yet to be fully realized and the hope of the left is that by the time that Obamacare is fully operational, it will be too late to repeal it.”

Hatch argued that a plurality of Americans believe the infamous individual mandate violates the Constitution. The law has been heard by three apellate courts. The Atlanta-based 11th Circuit struck down the individual mandate, the 6th Circuit in Cincinnati ruled that the bill was, in fact, constitutional and the Richmond, Va.-based 4th Circuit tossed the case entirely.

“The Supreme court will get to decide whether forcing individuals to purchase health insurance is an appropriate use of powers to regulate interstate commerce or to tax and spend for the general welfare,” Hatch said.