"Full Speed Ahead" After Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Act

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The chants of “We love Obamacare” in front of the U.S. Supreme Court erupted into wild cheers shortly after 10a Thursday morning as word spread like wildfire that the Court had upheld Obama’s Health Care Act. As the enormity of the historic moment sank in, the crowd spontaneously began chanting “USA! USA!” Relieved but realistic, Sandra Falwell, a nurse at Children's Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care unit who serves on the Metro Council’s Executive Board for DCNA/NNU, said that “We’re here as nurses to say that this doesn’t change our mission, which is Medicare for all. We can make sure every American has healthcare without breaking the bank…with the Robin Hood Tax to pay for it.” The decision “means that we can continue moving full speed ahead to implement and build upon the Affordable Care Act,” added Metro Council President Jos Williams. “We have no illusion that the destination has been reached, and we are more committed than ever to the hard work necessary to achieve our dream of quality health care for all.” The decision focuses attention even more sharply on the upcoming election, “A clear choice between the President, who has stood for fairness and for working men and women,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, “and Romney, who urges repealing health insurance protection for working families. We stand with the President.” - report by Chris Garlock; photos by Rick Reinhard (above) and Julia Kann (below)