Top court upholds Obamacare centerpiece

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The US Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the heart of President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul, handing him a huge election-year political victory and keeping in force the legislative centerpiece of his term, a law aimed at covering more than 30 million uninsured Americans.

The decision means the historic overhaul - opposed by virtually all Republicans including Mitt Romney, Obama's challenger - will continue to go into effect over the next several years, affecting the way that countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care.

The decision, written by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, sided with Obama on the centerpiece of the law, which requires all Americans to have health insurance or face a federal fine.

Republicans, with an eye on the November presidential election, were quick to respond.

"Today's Supreme Court decision sets the stakes for the November election. Now, the only way to save the country from Obamacare's budget-busting government takeover of healthcare is to elect a new president," party chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement.

The case was the most closely watched one before the court since a 2000 ruling resulted in George W. Bush being declared the winner of the presidential election.

Polls show a majority of Americans do not support the healthcare overhaul, which, ironically, was based on a plan put in place in Massachusetts when Romney was governor there. The Massachusetts law has been widely supported by residents since it took effect in 2006.

While Romney defends the Massachusetts plan, he had said such changes should be left to the individual states and not be imposed by the federal government. He has promised to revoke the healthcare overhaul if he wins the White House in November.

Questions:

1. Which court upheld the healthcare bill?

2. Who is Obama’s challenger?

3. When did the Massachusetts law take effect?

Answers:

1. US Supreme Court.

2. Mitt Romney.

3. 2006.

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.