By Mary O’KEEFE

Today the United States Supreme Court upheld the health care law that was supported by President Barack Obama.
The vote was a close 5-4 victory for the Obama Administration.
The Affordable Care Act was passed in both Houses in 2010. The Supreme Court ruling means the health care law will continue to be implemented. The entire law will be in effect in 2014.
Those who dissented were from the more conservative justices: Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. Voting to uphold the law were justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
The fifth and deciding vote to uphold the law came Chief Justice John Roberts who wrote the majority opinion. Roberts normally leans more toward the conservative side of issues.
Congressman Adam B. Schiff, 29th Congressional District, said that the vote shows that the Supreme Court is not another institution that has become all about partisanship.
“This means [parents] will be able to keep kids on their health care,” Schiff said. The health care law allows parents to keep their children on their insurance through the age of 26.
One of the most controversial pieces of the law is that everyone will be required to have health care or pay a penalty
“When uninsured people who can afford coverage get sick and show up at the emergency room for care, the rest of us end up paying for their care in the form of higher premiums,” Obama said in a press conference after the ruling was announced. “People who can afford to buy health insurance should take the responsibility to do so.”
The Supreme Court ruling does not seem to have quieted the debate on what has been dubbed Obamacare.
The Republicans have vowed to continue to fight the health care law with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor stating in a press conference that the House will vote on July 9 to repeal the legislation.
Schiff had hoped that the Supreme Court ruling would calm the health care waters and Congress could move forward on other issues.
“I have great respect for the Judiciary system,” said Schiff. “Changes need to be given a chance to succeed.”
He added that the economy and creating jobs are important issues Congress should be dealing with as well.