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8A Daily News – Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Justices moving to heart of health care overhaul WASHINGTON (AP) — As demonstrations swirled outside, Supreme Court justices signaled on Monday they are ready to confront without delay the keep-or-kill questions at the heart of challenges to Presi- dent Barack Obama's his- toric health care overhaul. Virtually every American will be affected by the out- come, due this summer in the heat of the election cam- paign. On the first of three days of arguments — the longest in decades — none of the justices appeared to embrace the contention that it was too soon for a deci- sion. Outside the packed courtroom, marching and singing demonstrators on both sides — including doc- tors in white coats, a Repub- lican presidential candidate and even a brass quartet — voiced their eagerness for the court to either uphold or throw out the largest expan- sion in the nation's social safety net since Medicare was enacted in 1965. Tuesday's arguments will focus on the heart of the case, the provision that aims to extend medical insurance to 30 million more Ameri- cans by requiring everyone to carry insurance or pay a penalty. A decision is expected by late June as Obama fights for re-elec- tion. All of his Republican challengers oppose the law and promise its repeal if the high court hasn't struck it down in the meantime. On Monday, the justices took on the question of whether an obscure tax law could derail the case. Audio of the day's argu- ment can be found at: http://bit.ly/GSXEpf . The 19th century law bars tax disputes from being Members of the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce and interested parties: Join us to participate in a conversation Towards a new partnership between The City of Red Bluff And RED BLUFF-TEHAMA COUNTY Your Chamber of Commerce CHAMBER OF COMMERCE heard in the courts before the taxes have been paid. Under the new health care law, Americans who don't purchase health insur- ance would have to report that omission on their tax returns for 2014 and would pay a penalty along with federal income tax on returns due by April 2015. Among the issues facing the court is whether that penalty is a tax. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr., defending the health law, urged the court to focus on what he called ''the issues of great moment'' at the heart of the case. The 26 states and a small business group challenging the law also want the court to go ahead and decide on its con- stitutionality without delay. But one lower court that heard the case, the federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., has said the challenge is premature. No justice seemed likely to buy that argument Monday. The justices fired two dozen questions in less than a half hour at Washington attorney Robert Long, who was defending the appeals court ruling. ''What is the parade of horribles?'' asked Justice Sonia Sotomayor, if the court were to decide the penalties were not a tax and the health care case went forward? Long suggested that could encourage more challenges to the long-stand- ing system in which the gen- eral rule is that taxpayers must pay a disputed tax before they can go to court. The questions came so quickly at times that the jus- tices interrupted each other. At one point, Justices Ruth Thursday, April 5, 6:00 PM Red Bluff Elks Lodge The City has requested consideration of an agreement very different than our current agreement, in place since 2004. We agree this is a new time, with new challenges … and new opportunities. As your Chamber's volunteer leadership prepares to chart our future course, we are turning to our members for guidance and input. You can participate in drawing the map to chart the course for the Chamber's future, and its viability as your partner in business! Join us please to discuss current and potential Chamber priorities … and its commitments to members, visitors, potential new residents and business operators, the community at large, stakeholders and partners. Presentations by: Greg Stevens, Chairman 2011-2012 Dave Gowan, Chamber CEO Kris Behrens, Immediate Past Chair Kathy Schmitz, Chamber Director and Co-Chair of the Tehama County Branding Project Round-table discussions Presentations from discussions Q&A for the presenters No-Host Bar will be Open Hors D'oeuvres RESERVATIONS REQUIRED – By Noon, Monday April 2 Email: info@redbluffchamber.com Or phone: (530) 527-6220 Published through a co-sponsorship agreement withD NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 www://christianBP.com "Free Networking" SEEKING MEMBERS AND LEADERS WEDNESDAYS 8-9:15 AM Mill Creek, 8051 CA 99E LOS MOLINOS THURSDAYS -8-9:15 AM Cozy Diner, 259 S Main St. RED BLUFF-MORE INFO? 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Verrilli also faced pointed questioning over the administration's differing explanations for whether the penalty is a tax. ''General Verrilli, today you are arguing that the penalty is not a tax. Tomor- row you are going to be back and you will be argu- ing that the penalty is a tax,'' Justice Samuel Alito said. Verrilli said Monday's argument dealt with the meaning of the word in the context of the 19th century law, the Anti-Injunction Act. Tuesday's session will explore Congress' power to impose the insurance requirement and penalty. In that setting, he said, Con- gress has the authority under the Constitution ''to lay and collect taxes,'' including the penalty for not having insur- ance. Still, he had trouble keep- ing his terms straight. Answering a question from Kagan, Verrilli said, ''If they pay the tax, then they are in compliance with the law.'' 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