Editor's Note: This is a developing story; Patch will update the story as information becomes available.
Early Thursday morning, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the individual health insurance mandate is constitutional.
According to Patch's sister publication, the Huffington Post, the individual mandate of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act has been deemed constitutional, and upheld as a tax.
The Huffington Post reports, "The majority [of the Supreme Court justices] concluded that the mandate, which requires virtually all Americans to obtain minimum health insurance coverage or pay a penalty, falls within Congress' power under the Constitution to 'lay and collect taxes.'"
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, "...it is reasonable to construe what Congress has done as increasing taxes on those who have a certain amount of income, but choose to go without health insurance. Such legislation is within Congress's power to tax."
Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined in the majority.
For details of the ruling, click here.
PATCH WANTS TO KNOW - WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Vote in our anonymous poll below, and share your thoughts on the historic ruling in the comments.
Follow San Mateo Patch on Twitter | Like San Mateo Patch on Facebook | Sign up for the San Mateo Patch daily newsletter | Blog for San Mateo Patch
