U.S. Supreme Court

Strange Fruit: SCOTUS Takes on Marriage Equality; Filmmaker Byron Hurt on 'Soul Food Junkies'

Laura Ellis — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two marriage equality cases. The Prop 8 case is a constitutional challenge to California's ban on same-sex marriage. The justices seem divided on the issue and there are even hints the case could get thrown out on standing. Tuesday's arguments brought us gems like whether gay marriage is newer than cell phones, whether it's harmful to children, and whether couples older than 55 should be able to marry even if they can't procreate.

McConnell Assails Health Care Law In Rotary Speech

Rick Howlett — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 19:44:01 +0000

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky repeated his call today for the repeal of President Obama’s federal health care overhaul upheld last month by the Supreme Court.

In a speech to the Louisville Rotary Club, the Senate Republican Leader called the Affordable Health Care Act “too arrogant and too overreaching.”

Paul: Obamacare Debate Will Continue

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:36:39 +0000

Comparing the debate to the infamous Dred Scott case, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says the Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act isn't the final word.

In a brief editorial, Paul also addresses criticisms for his earlier dismissal of the high court's powers to declare what is constitutional. He also mentions the Plessy v. Ferguson decision that made racial separation legal in the U.S. under Jim Crow as an example of the high court being wrong about what is constitutional.

From USA Today:

While it is clear to anyone who was awake in high school civics class that the Supreme Court has the power to declare whether a law is valid under the Constitution, that power is not a pronouncement set in stone.
Think of how our country would look now had the Supreme Court not changed its view of what is constitutional. Think of 1857, when the court handed down the outrageous Dred Scott decision, which said African Americans were not citizens.

Health Care Overhaul: What it Means for Kentuckians

Brad Yost — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 13:00:13 +0000

Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the health care overhaul, governments, businesses, providers and taxpayers are preparing for the law’s implementation, much of it in 2014.

Friday on Byline, we took a close look at the local impacts of the Affordable Care Act with Jodi Mitchell of Kentucky Voices for Health; Anne Hadreas with the Kentucky Equal Justice Center and Terry Brooks of Kentucky Youth Advocates.

High Court Upholds ACA: Roundup

Rick Howlett — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:34:12 +0000

Information for this post also came from the Associated Press

President Barack Obama's health care overhaul will proceed thanks to the help of conservative Chief Justice John Roberts. The Supreme Court upheld the law today with Roberts joining with the court's four liberal justices in a 5-4 decision.

Pence Compares Health Care Ruling to 9/11 Attacks

Phillip M. Bailey — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:08:37 +0000

Indiana Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence compared the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Affordable Care Act to the terrorist attacks of September 11.

The comment was reportedly made during a a closed door GOP meeting, according to Politico.

The conservative congressman quickly apologized.

UofL Scholars Blast Paul Over SCOTUS Remarks

Phillip M. Bailey — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:44:36 +0000

Legal and political scholars are lambasting U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., for dismissing the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in reaction to the health care ruling on Thursday.

In a statement, Paul said the Affordable Care Act would destroy the country's health care system and belittled the role of judicial review.

"Just because a couple people on the Supreme Court declare something to be ‘constitutional’ does not make it so. The whole thing remains unconstitutional," said Paul. "While the court may have erroneously come to the conclusion that the law is allowable, it certainly does nothing to make this mandate or government takeover of our health care right."

But several local and national observers have called Paul's comment out of bounds with the Constitution and the landmark Madison v. Marbury case (1803), which allows for the high court to review laws.

University of Louisville law professor Sam Marcosson says Paul's comments are irresponsible, adding the Supreme Court is the referee of the Constitution.

Beshear: High Court Decision Removes Uncertainty; State To Move Forward With Insurance Exchange

Rick Howlett — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:42:02 +0000

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear says the state will now move forward with the establishment of a health insurance exchange now that the Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of the federal health care overhaul.

Beshear issued this statement today:

“This Supreme Court decision removes much of the uncertainty about the Affordable Care Act.

Daniels Says Health Care Law Will Cause Soaring Premiums

Rick Howlett — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:33:15 +0000

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels issued this statement in response to today's U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the federal health care law:

“The immediate implications for Indiana are a huge increase in health insurance rates, especially for young people, and the need to decide whether to try to construct a so-called “exchange” or let the federal government do so.

McConnell: Ruling Underscores Need To Repeal "Obamacare"

Rick Howlett — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:27:08 +0000

Here is a statement released by