Keath McKinney Macon"I think that everybody should be required to buy affordable health insurance, so that they can get the health care the need regardless of income'
Frank Gibbs, Gordon: "From this point forward, I guess the federal government will be able to mandate anything about our lives, and that's very, very disturbing."
CENTRAL GEORGIANS RESPOND TO WHAT SOME ARE CALLING ONE OF THE BIGGEST... AND MOST SURPRISING... SUPREME COURT RULINGS OF OUR TIME.
GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US. I'M LEAH JOHNSON.
AND I'M FRANK MALLOY.
OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT IS THE HIGH COURT'S DECISION THAT UPHELD MOST OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S HEALTHCARE PLAN.
STACEY COHAN BREAKS DOWN THE DAY IN WASHINGTON.
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IT WAS A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RULING ... ON POLARIZING LEGISLATION.
AND ON THE FINAL DAY BEFORE SUMMER RECESS -
THE SUPREME COURT RULED ON THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
AT THE HEART OF THE CONTROVERSY - THE "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE".
IT REQUIRED MOST AMERICANS TO BE COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCE OR PAY A FINE.
IN A NARROW VOTE OF 5-4, THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT PROVISION IS CONSTITUTIONAL UNDER THE CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT DEALS WITH TAXES. .
CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS WROTE THE MAJORITY OPINION SAYING QUOTE -
"THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO ORDER PEOPLE TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE.... THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE THE POWER TO IMPOSE A TAX ON THOSE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE."
IT IS A HUGE VICTORY FOR THE PRESIDENT - THIS IS CONSIDERED THE SIGNATURE LEGISLATION OF HIS TIME IN OFFICE.
MISTER OBAMA SAYS THE COURT'S DECISION GOES BEYOND POLITICS. .
whatever the politics, today's decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY REPEATED HIS PLEDGE TO WORK FOR REPEAL OF SO-CALLED "OBAMACARE" IF ELECTED.
what the court did not do on its last day in session, I will do on my first day if elected president of the united states. And that is I will act to repeal Obamacare
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THE STATE OF GEORGIA'S CHIEF ADVOCATE IN THE HEALTH-CARE CHALLENGE CALLS TODAY'S RULING... "A POLITICAL RESULT."
MERCER LAW PROFESSOR AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERT DAVID OEDEL HELPED REPRESENT THE STATE OF GEORGIA DURING THE CASE.
HE WAS IN THE COURT ROOM AT THE TIME OF THE RULING...AND TOLD US HE WAS "AMAZED" AT THE 5-TO-4 VOTE THAT UPHELD PRESIDENT OBAMA'S HEALTH-CARE LAW.
Chief Justice Roberts really pulled a variety of rabbits out of a hat to pull this case together in a way that allowed a political result. I think it's a mixed bag. Something was in it for the states. But ultimately it's the people who will decide how they want to pursue this. And makes the presidential election the big game going forward.
OEDEL WAS AT THE SUPREME COURT IN MARCH, WHEN JUSTICES QUESTIONED ADVOCATES ON BOTH SIDES.
THEN HE RETURNED TO D.C. TO HEAR THURSDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT.\
FRANK?
THIS HISTORIC DECISION HAS BEEN MORE THAN THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING... AND PASSED A LOT OF HURDLES ALONG THE WAY.
ON MARCH 5, 2009... PRESIDENT OBAMA HOSTED A HEALTH CARE SUMMIT.
IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR... THE HOUSE PASSED THE HEALTH CARE BILL
ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2009... THE SENATE PASSED A DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE PLAN.
AND ON MARCH 21, 2010... THE HOUSE APPROVED THE SENATE'S VERSION.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED IT INTO LAW JUST TWO DAYS LATER.
HOWEVER... ON DECEMBER 13, 2010... A FEDERAL JUDGE IN VIRGINIA BECAME THE FIRST TO RULE AGAINST THE LAW . AND MORE THAN HALF THE STATES LATER JOINED THE CHALLENGE.
IN AUGUST OF 2011... AN APPEALS COURT CALLED THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
BUT EARLIER TODAY..THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED THAT THE MANDATE WAS CONSTITUTIONAL AFTER ALL... AND UPHELD MOST OF THE LAW.
THE COMPONENT THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT... AS WE MENTIONED... IS THE PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AIMED AT GIVING MILLIONS OF NEEDY AMERICANS HEALTH COVERAGE...BY EXPANDING MEDICAID.
THE COURT SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T FORCE STATES TO PICK UP THE TAB...BY THREATENING TO WITHHOLD FUNDING.
JOINING US IS FRED AMMONS OF COMMUNITY HEALTHWORKS...A NON PROFIT THAT ADVOCATES FOR HEALTHIER LIVING...AND HEALTH CARE ACCESS....IN CENTRAL GEORGIA.
HE'S HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TODAY'S DECISION AFFECTS THE UNINSURED..
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
THE COMPONENT THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT... AS WE MENTIONED... IS THE PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AIMED AT GIVING MILLIONS OF NEEDY AMERICANS HEALTH COVERAGE...BY EXPANDING MEDICAID.
THE COURT SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T FORCE STATES TO PICK UP THE TAB...BY THREATENING TO WITHHOLD FUNDING.
JOINING US IS FRED AMMONS OF COMMUNITY HEALTHWORKS...A NON PROFIT THAT ADVOCATES FOR HEALTHIER LIVING...AND HEALTH CARE ACCESS....IN CENTRAL GEORGIA.
HE'S HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TODAY'S DECISION AFFECTS THE UNINSURED..
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
IN OTHER NEWS... THE MACON BIBB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS A NEW PRESIDENT.
AND HE'S THE SAME MAN WHO'S BEEN RUNNING THE PLACE FOR THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS.
FORMER COX COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE MIKE DYER.
THAT'S ACCORING TO LEONARD BEVILL... CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAMBER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
DYER IS PRESIDENT AND C-E-O OF THE MACON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
HE ALSO LED AN EFFORT TO SAVE GEORGIA'S SPORTS AND MUSIC HALLS OF FAME HERE IN MACON.
HE REPLACES CHIP CHERRY WHO LEFT LAST YEAR.
CHAMBER OFFICIALS PLAN TO INTRODUCE DYER AT A NEWS CONFERENCE FRIDAY MORNING.
AS WE CONTINUE OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE ... HOURS AFTER THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT UPHELD A VAST MAJORITY OF THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE PLAN... WE'RE TAKING THE TEMPERATURE OF GEORGIA'S LEADERS.
GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL HAS OPPOSED THE HEALTH CARE LAW FROM THE START.. AND STILL CALLS IT A DISASTER.
Gov. Nathan Deal, (R) Georgia: "With the opinion of the Supreme Court as to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, we now know that that piece of legislation created the largest tax increase in the history of the United States."
DEAL SAYS HE MAY WAIT UNTIL THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS BEFORE IMPLEMENTING PARTS OF THE LAW HERE IN GEORGIA.
G-O-P LEADERS HOPE TO REPEAL THE LAW... IF MITT ROMNEY WINS THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICANS MAKE BIG GAINS IN CONGRESS.
WHEN THAT DECISION CAME DOWN....GEORGIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAM OLENS SAYS HE WAS NOT AT THE SUPREME COURT...BUT HE WAS IN WASHINGTON WITH MITT ROMNEY.
AND HE SAYS THE REACTION IN THE ROOM... WAS SURPRISE AND DISBELIEF.
"I disagree with the majority opinion today but I respect the institution of the court. I respect Chief Justice Roberts and we will continue to disagree with the Affordale Care Act because it neither provide affordable care nor acceptable care."
HE SAYS HE'S MOST TROUBLED BY THE TAX ON PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BUY HEALTH-CARE INSURANCE.
"Frankly, I'm having trouble finding the limits of the decision. By that I mean, you tell the public it's not a tax, but the Justice Department can argue that it is a tax. It seems pretty deceptive to members of congress."
"It's not like an income tax. It's not like a sales tax. When you pay this tax you get nothing in return. This tax doesn't get you health care. It gives the Federal Government revenue. So frankly, I find that pretty frightening."
OUR 13-W-M-A-Z VIEWERS HAVE BEEN SHARING THEIR OPINIONS TOO.
AS OF ABOUT ELEVEN TONIGHT.. THERE WERE MORE THAN 255 COMMENTS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE... AND YOU CAN JOIN THE DISCUSSION THERE TOO.
THIS WEEK'S SCENE 13 IS ALL ABOUT THE RED WHITE AND BLUE...
JULY 4TH FALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK..SO MANY CENTRAL GEORGIA COMMUNITIES START CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY THIS WEEKEND...
THAT'S TRUE IN MILLEDGEVILLE..
THAT'S TRUE IN MILLEDGEVILLE..
WHERE THE TOWN IS BREAKING OUT THE FIREWORKS... AFTER A THREE-YEAR BREAK.
THE CELEBRATION IS SATURDAY AT THE MILLEDGEVILLE MALL...
THE MUSIC STARTS AT 6 P-M...AND THE FIREWORKS BEGIN A FEW MINUTES AFTER SUNDOWN..
WRIGHTSVILLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY KICKS OFF ITS CELEBRATION SUNDAY... WITH A SPECIAL VETERANS SERVICE AT THE MOUNT OLIVE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE..
THE FIREWORKS WILL HAPPEN TUESDAY, JULY 3RD..AROUND 9-15 P-M...FOLLOWED BY A STREET DANCE UNTIL MIDNIGHT..
ON JULY 4TH ITSELF...THE INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE STARTS AT 10 A-M...
THIS YEAR'S GRAND MARSHAL IS LORAN SMITH...A FAMILIAR FACE TO GEORGIA BULLDOG FANS..
AND FANS OF WARNER ROBINS' ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT AND FIREWORKS SHOW HAVE CIRCLED MONDAY, JULY SECOND ON THEIR CALENDARS.
AND FANS OF WARNER ROBINS' ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT AND FIREWORKS SHOW HAVE CIRCLED MONDAY, JULY SECOND ON THEIR CALENDARS.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME THAT THE BAND OF THE AIR FORCE RESERVE FROM ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE PERFORMS AT THE SHOW.
DUE TO BUDGET CUTS... THE AIR FORCE WILL REASSIGN ITS 45 MEMBERS TO EIGHT OTHER BANDS ACROSS THE U-S.
DUE TO BUDGET CUTS... THE AIR FORCE WILL REASSIGN ITS 45 MEMBERS TO EIGHT OTHER BANDS ACROSS THE U-S.
STARTING NEXT YEAR.. A BAND BASED OUT OF TEXAS WILL REPRESENT CENTRAL GEORGIA.
THE GATES OPEN AT 6 P-M AT MCCONNELL-TALBERT STADIUM AND THE CELEBRATION BEGINS WITH THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND AN F-15 FLY OVER AT 8.
THE GATES OPEN AT 6 P-M AT MCCONNELL-TALBERT STADIUM AND THE CELEBRATION BEGINS WITH THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND AN F-15 FLY OVER AT 8.
THIS YEAR'S SPECIAL GUESTS ARE COUNTRY MUSIC STAR JOSH TURNER AND SERGEANT ANGIE JOHNSON WHOSE YOUTUBE VIDEO PERFORMANCE OF "ROLLIN IN THE DEEP" WENT VIRAL..
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS...CHECK OUT THE "WHERE YOU LIVE PAGE" AT 13 WMAZ DOT COM.