Congress responds to Supreme Court Obamacare decision

After a startled pause, members of Congress are getting into gear with their responses to the Supreme Court upholding the Affordable Care Act.

On the Senate floor, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is back to including the "replace" in "repeal and replace," and is claiming that "constitutionality was never an argument to keep this law in place." But the "replace" many other Republicans are talking about is replacing President Obama with Mitt Romney, the father of the mandate.

Led by John Boehner in the "Let 'em die" cry, House Republicans plan their temper tantrum in vote form. Again.

During the week of July 9th, the House of Representatives will once again repeal ObamaCare.
' @GOPLeader via web Rep. Michele Bachmann enthusiastically agrees, saying, "The only way to save the country from Obamacare's budget-busting government takeover of health care is to completely repeal it."
Now that we know #Obamacare is indeed a #jobkilling #Tax we should move to #RepealObamacare as soon as possible. #letsvote #tcot #sayfie
' @marcorubio via Twitter for iPhone Rubio also appeared on CNN, basically looking for opportunities to say "middle-class tax increase" as many times as possible. To which we respond "insurance company rebates this summer, young adults insured on their parents' policies, donut hole closure, coverage for children with preexisting conditions."

Sen. John Cornyn:

We must replace it with reforms that expand access and enhance care without adding trillions of dollars to the national debt and inserting Washington bureaucrats between Americans and their doctors.

Cornyn's preferred approach, of course, is having health insurance company executives between Americans and their doctors.
This ruling doesn't change the fact that a majority of the people of Utah and across America want this law repealed. #utpol #SCOTUS
' @OrrinHatch via Twitter for iPhone Not really, though.

After all that, you're going to need a palate cleanser. Here's Nancy Pelosi:

This decision is a victory for the American people.  With this ruling, Americans will benefit from critical patient protections, lower costs for the middle class, more coverage for families, and greater accountability for the insurance industry. [...]

In passing health reform, we made history for our nation and progress for the American people.  We completed the unfinished business of our society and strengthened the character of our country.  We ensured health care would be a right for all, not a privilege for the few. Today, the Supreme Court affirmed our progress and protected that right, securing a future of health and economic security for the middle class and for every American.

And an unvarnished response from Sen. Barbara Mikulski:
Sen Barbara Mikulski: "Thank God that the Supreme Court followed the Constitution"
' @jamiedupree via TweetDeck

9:34 AM PT: Ron Paul:

I strongly disagree with today's decision by the Supreme Court, but I am not surprised. The Court has a dismal record when it comes to protecting liberty against unconstitutional excesses by Congress.    

Today we should remember that virtually everything government does is a 'mandate.' [...]

9:47 AM PT: Nancy Pelosi calls Vicki Kennedy: "Now, Teddy can rest." http://t.co/...
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