Today, in a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld health insurance subsidies in states with federal exchanges. A lot of Missourians can breathe a little easier now.

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

Syllabus [pdf]

KING ET AL. v. BURWELL, SECRETARY OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES, ET AL.

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 14-114. Argued March 4, 2015-Decided June 25, 2015

….The combination of no tax credits and an ineffective coverage requirement could well push a State’s individual insurance market intoa death spiral. It is implausible that Congress meant the Act to operate in this manner. Congress made the guaranteed issue and community rating requirements applicable in every State in the Nation, but those requirements only work when combined with the coverage requirement and tax credits. It thus stands to reason that Congress meant for those provisions to apply in every State as well….

[….]

ROBERTS, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which KENNEDY, GINSBURG, BREYER, SOTOMAYOR, and KAGAN, JJ., joined. SCALIA, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which THOMAS and ALITO, JJ., joined.

[….]

….Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them….

….The judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is

Affirmed.

[….]

* a reference to Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent.

A few reactions via social media:

Hillary Clinton ‏@HillaryClinton

Yes! SCOTUS affirms what we know is true in our hearts & under the law: Health insurance should be affordable & available to all. H 9:37 AM – 25 Jun 2015

Claire McCaskill ‏@clairecmc

Supreme Court decision on healthcare law=common sense. Time for Rs to stop the bashing and start working w/us to make it better. 9:37 AM – 25 Jun 2015

Nancy Pelosi ‏@NancyPelosi

Today, for the second time, SCOTUS has upheld the ACA. A victory for common sense & for all Americans. [….]  #KingvBurwell 9:32 AM – 25 Jun 2015

Billmon ‏@billmon1

That chomping sound you hear this morning is from millions of wing nuts gnashing their teeth in frustration & rage. [….] 9:29 AM – 25 Jun 2015

Tony Messenger ‏@tonymess

Imagine, just imagine the jobs created, the lives saved, the economic elation in #STL today if the #moleg had chosen to expand #Medicaid. 9:27 AM – 25 Jun 2015

Imagine.

Martha Stevens ‏@Martha4MO

Over 200,000 Missourians get to keep their tax credits! Today is a WIN for 8 MIL Americans. #VICTORY #SCOTUS #MoLeg [….] 9:22 AM – 25 Jun 2015