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    DSG SCOTUS Obamacare Letter

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    The U.S. Department of Justice has reconsidered its position in California v. Texas and now believes that: 1) The individual mandate of the ACA is constitutional even without a tax penalty. 2) If found unconstitutional, the individual mandate is severable from the rest of the ACA and the law can remain in place. 3) It is not requesting supplemental briefing from the Supreme Court on these cases.

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    DSG SCOTUS Obamacare Letter

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    8K views15 pages
    The U.S. Department of Justice has reconsidered its position in California v. Texas and now believes that: 1) The individual mandate of the ACA is constitutional even without a tax penalty. 2) If found unconstitutional, the individual mandate is severable from the rest of the ACA and the law can remain in place. 3) It is not requesting supplemental briefing from the Supreme Court on these cases.

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    The U.S. Department of Justice has reconsidered its position in California v. Texas and now believes that: 1) The individual mandate of the ACA is constitutional even without a tax penalty. 2) If found unconstitutional, the individual mandate is severable from the rest of the ACA and the law can remain in place. 3) It is not requesting supplemental briefing from the Supreme Court on these cases.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Flag for inappropriate content
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    8K views15 pages

    DSG SCOTUS Obamacare Letter

    Uploaded by

    Law&Crime
    The U.S. Department of Justice has reconsidered its position in California v. Texas and now believes that: 1) The individual mandate of the ACA is constitutional even without a tax penalty. 2) If found unconstitutional, the individual mandate is severable from the rest of the ACA and the law can remain in place. 3) It is not requesting supplemental briefing from the Supreme Court on these cases.

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    of 15

    U.S.

    Department of Justice

    Office of the Solicitor General

    Washington, D.C. 20530

    February 10, 2021

    Honorable Scott S. Harris


    Clerk
    Supreme Court of the United States
    Washington, D.C. 20543

    Re: California, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 19-840, and Texas, et al. v.
    California, et al., No. 19-1019

    Dear Mr. Harris:

    On November 10, 2020, this Court heard oral argument in these consolidated cases con-
    cerning whether, as a result of the elimination in 2017 of the monetary payment under 26 U.S.C.
    5000A, which was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Pub.
    L. No. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119, that provision is no longer a valid exercise of Congress’s legislative
    authority; and whether, if that provision is now invalid, the remainder of the ACA’s provisions are
    inseverable from it.

    1. The federal respondents had previously filed a brief contending that Section 5000A(a)
    is unconstitutional and is inseverable from the remainder of the ACA, although the scope of relief
    entered should be limited to the provisions shown to injure the plaintiffs. The government ad-
    vanced the same positions at oral argument.

    Following the change in Administration, the Department of Justice has reconsidered the
    government’s position in these cases. The purpose of this letter is to notify the Court that the
    United States no longer adheres to the conclusions in the previously filed brief of the federal re-
    spondents.

    2. After reconsideration of the issue, it is now the position of the United States that the
    amended Section 5000A is constitutional. In National Federation of Independent Business v.
    Sebelius (NFIB), this Court held that the payment provision in Section 5000A could be sustained
    as a valid exercise of Congress’s constitutional power because it offered a choice between main-
    taining health insurance and making a tax payment. 567 U.S. 519, 570, 574 & n.11 (2012). In so
    ruling, the Court noted that no negative legal consequences attached to not buying health insurance
    beyond requiring a payment to the IRS, and that the government’s position in the case confirmed
    that if someone chooses to pay rather than obtain health insurance, that person has fully complied
    with the law. Id. at 568. Congress in 2017 amended Section 5000A(c) by reducing to zero (effec-
    tive in 2019) the shared responsibility payment assessed under Section 5000A(b) as a lawful alter-
    native to purchasing insurance under Section 5000A(a), see Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Pub. L. No.
    115-97, Tit. I, § 11081, 131 Stat. 2092, but it did not amend Section 5000A(a) or (b). In the view
    of the United States, Congress’s decision to reduce the payment amount to zero therefore did not
    convert Section 5000A from a provision affording a constitutional choice into an unconstitutional
    mandate to maintain insurance. Rather than imposing a new burden on covered individuals, the
    2017 amendment preserved the choice between lawful options and simply eliminated any financial
    or negative legal consequence from choosing not to enroll in health coverage.

    It is also now the position of the United States that, if this Court nevertheless concludes
    that Section 5000A(a) is unconstitutional, that provision is severable from the remainder of the
    ACA. The severability inquiry typically requires asking “whether Congress would have wanted
    the rest of [a statute] to stand, had it known that” one or more particular provisions of the statute
    would be held invalid. NFIB, 567 U.S. at 587 (opinion of Roberts, C.J.). And the “normal rule is
    that partial, rather than facial, invalidation is the required course.” Free Enter. Fund v. Public Co.
    Accounting Oversight Bd., 561 U.S. 477, 508 (2010) (citation and internal quotation marks omit-
    ted). In the view of the United States, that presumption of severability cannot be overcome here,
    particularly as the 2017 Congress that reduced to zero the amount of the shared responsibility
    payment option under Section 5000A simultaneously left in place the remainder of the ACA.

    3. Because oral argument was held and these cases were submitted three months ago, and
    because other parties have fully briefed both sides of the questions presented, the United States is
    not requesting supplemental briefing.

    I would appreciate it if you would circulate this letter to the Members of the Court.

    Sincerely,

    Edwin S. Kneedler
    Deputy Solicitor General*

    cc: See Attached Service List

    * The Acting Solicitor General is recused in these cases.

    2
    19-0840
    CALIFORNIA, ET AL.
    TEXAS, ET AL.

    HOPE M. BABCOCK
    INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC REPRESENTATION
    GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER
    600 NEW JERSEY AVENUE NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001
    202-662-9535
    [email protected]

    A. XAVIER BAKER
    CROWELL & MORNING LLP
    1001 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20004
    202-624-2842
    [email protected]

    NICOLE G. BERNER
    1800 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036
    202-730-7383
    [email protected]

    K. LEE BLALACK
    O'MELVENY6 & MYERS LLP
    1625 EYE STREET, N.W.
    WASHINGTON, DC 20006
    202-383-5300
    [email protected]

    DAVID CHRISTOPHER BOYLE


    P.O. BOX 15143
    LONG BEACH, CA 90815
    [email protected]
    STUART F. DELERY
    GIBSON,DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
    1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5306
    202-955-8500
    [email protected]

    JAY DESANTO
    CROWELL & MORING LLP
    1001 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001-2595
    202-624-2812
    [email protected]

    NICHOLAS M. DICARLO
    ZUCKERMAN SPAEDER LLP
    1800 M STREET NW
    SUITE 1000
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5807
    202-778-1835
    [email protected]

    JEREMY C. DOERRE
    TILLMAN WRIGHT PLLC
    3440 TORINGDON WAY
    SUITE 310
    CHARLOTTE, NC 28277
    704-248-4883
    [email protected]

    JOHN C. EASTMAN
    THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE CENTER FOR
    CONSTITUTIONAL JURISPRUNCE
    CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
    DALE E. FOWLER SCHOOL OF LAW
    ONE UNIVERSITY DRIVE
    ORANGE, CA 92866
    877-855-3330
    [email protected]
    JOHN ALLEN EIDSMOE
    FOUNDATION FOR MORAL LAW
    ONE DEXTER AVE.
    MONTGOMERY, AL 36064
    334-262-1245
    [email protected]

    BRIAN H. FLETCHER
    STANFORD LAW SCHOOL
    SUPREME COURT LITIGATION CLINIC
    559 NATHAN ABBOTT WAY
    STANFORD, CA 94305
    650-724-3345
    [email protected]

    BENJAMIN M. FLOWERS
    OHIO SOLICITOR GENERAL
    30 E. BROAD ST.
    17TH FL.
    COLUMBUS, OH 43215
    614-466-8980
    [email protected]

    MATTHEW C. FORYS
    LANDMARK LEGAL FOUNDATION
    19415 DEERFEILD AVE.
    SUITE 312
    LEESBURG , VA 20176
    703-554-6100
    [email protected]

    MAAME GYAMFI
    AARP FOUNDATION
    601 E STREET, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20049
    202-434-6100
    [email protected]
    CAITLIN J. HALLIGAN
    SELENDY & GAY PLLC
    1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
    ONE HOGAN PLACE
    NEW YORK, NY 10104
    212-390-9000
    [email protected]

    KYLE DOUGLAS HAWKINS


    OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
    P.O. BOX 12548 (MC 059)
    AUSTIN, TX 78711-2548
    512-936-1700
    [email protected]

    MATTHEW S. HELLMAN
    JENNER & BLOCK LLP
    1099 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
    SUITE 900
    WASHINGTON , DC 20001-4412
    202-639-6000
    [email protected]

    ROBERT E. HENNEKE
    TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION FOR
    THE AMERICAN FUTURE
    901 CONGRESS AVENUE
    AUSTIN, TX 78701
    512-472-2700
    [email protected]

    HYLAND HUNT
    DEUTSCH HUNT PLLC
    300 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, N.W.
    SUITE 900
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001
    202-868-6915
    [email protected]
    WILLIAM M. JAY
    GOODWIN PROCTER LLP
    1900 N. STREET, NW.
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036
    202-346-4000
    [email protected]

    MARK P. JOHNSON
    DENTONS US LLP
    4520 MAIN STREET
    SUITE 1100
    KANSAS CITY, MO 64111
    816-460-2400
    [email protected]

    ALLON KEDEM
    ARNOLD & PORTER KAYE SCHOLER LLP
    601 MASSACHUSETTS AVE. NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001
    202-942-6234
    [email protected]

    RAKESH N. KILARU
    WILKINSON WALSH LLP
    2001 M STREET, NW
    10TH FLOOR
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036
    202-847-4000
    [email protected]

    MICHAEL B. KIMBERLY
    MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
    500 NORTH CAPITOL STREET, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001
    202-756-8000
    [email protected]
    DOUGLAS N. LETTER
    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
    219 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
    WASHINGTON, DC 20515-6532
    202-225-9700
    [email protected]

    JOHN LONGSTRETH
    K&L GATES LLP
    1601 K STREET, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20006
    202-778-9000
    [email protected]

    TIMOTHY C. MACDONNELL
    BLACK LUNG CLINIC WASHINGTON AND
    LEE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, LEWIS
    HALL
    1 E. DENNY CIRCLE
    ROOM 106
    LEXINGTON, VA 24450
    540-458-8562
    [email protected]

    SEAN MAROTTA
    HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP
    555 THIRTEENTH STREET, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20004
    202-637-5600
    [email protected]

    KIRSTEN V. MAYER
    ROPES & GRAY LLP
    PRUDENTIAL TOWER
    800 BOYLSTON STREET
    BOSTON , MA 02199
    617-951-7000
    [email protected]
    RAFFI MELKONIAN
    WRIGHT & CLOSE
    ONE RIVERWAY
    SUITE 2200
    HOUSTON, TX 77056
    713-572-4321
    [email protected]

    STEPHEN W. MILLER
    HARRIS, WILTSHIRE & GRANNIS LLP
    1919 M STREET, NW
    8TH FLOOR
    WASHINGTON , DC 20036
    202-730-1300
    [email protected]

    LEONARD A. NELSO
    AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
    330 N. WABASH AVE.
    SUITE 39300
    CHICAGO, IL 60611
    312-464-5532
    [email protected]

    LEONARD A. NELSON
    AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
    330 N. WABASH AVE.
    SUITE 39300
    CHICAGO, IL 60611
    312-464-5532
    [email protected]

    SCOTT L. NELSON
    PUBLIC CITIZEN LITIGTION GROUP
    1600 20TH STREET NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20009
    202-588-1000
    WWW.CITIZEN.ORG
    JOSEPH R. PALMORE
    MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
    2000 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20006-1888
    202-887-6940
    [email protected]

    JANE PERKINS
    NATIONAL HEALTH LAW PROGRAM
    200 N. GREESBORO STREET
    SUITE D-13
    CARRBORO, NC 27510
    919-968-6308
    [email protected]

    ELIZABETH B. PRELOGAR
    COOLEY LLP
    1299 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20004
    202-842-7800
    [email protected]

    JAIME A. SANTOS
    GOODWIN PROCTER LLP
    1900 N STREET, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036
    202-346-4000
    [email protected]

    ANDREW L. SCHLAFLY
    ATTORNEY AT LAW
    939 OLD CHESTER RD.
    FAR HILLS, NJ 07931
    908-719-8608
    [email protected]
    WILLIAM B. SCHULTZ
    ZUCKERMAN SPAEDER LLP
    1800 M STREET, N.W.
    SUITE 1000
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5807
    202-778-1800
    [email protected]

    VIRGINIA A. SEITZ
    SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP
    1501 K STREET, N.W.
    WASHINGTON, DC 20005
    202-736-8000
    [email protected]

    JAY ALAN SEKULO


    THE AMERICAN CENTER LAW & JUSTICE
    201 MARYLAND AVE. NE
    WASHINGTON, DC 20002
    202-546-8890
    [email protected]

    PRATIK A. SHAH
    AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD LLP
    2001 K STREET, NW
    1333 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20006
    202-887-4000
    [email protected]

    ILYA SHAPIRO
    CATO INSTITUTE
    1000 MASSACHUSETTS AVE., NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001
    202-218-4600
    [email protected]
    SAMUEL P. SIEGEL
    STATE OF CALIFORNIA
    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    1300 I STREET
    SACRAMENTO , CA 95814
    916-210-6269
    [email protected]

    GEOFFREY D. STROMMER
    HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP
    215 SW WASHINGTON ST.
    SUITE 200
    PORTLAND, OR 97204
    503-242-1745
    [email protected]

    STEVEN M. SULLIVAN
    ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
    200 SAINT PAUL PLACE
    20TH FLOOR
    BALTIMORE, MD 21202
    410-576-6325
    [email protected]

    LORRAINE ALOFA VAN KIRK


    OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNSEL
    70 WEST HEDDING STEET
    EAST WING, 9TH FLOOR
    SAN JOSE, CA 95110
    [email protected]

    EDWARD T. WATERS
    FELDESMAN TUCKER LEIF ER FIDELL LL P
    1129 20TH STREET, N.W.
    4TH FLOOR
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036
    202-466-8960
    [email protected]
    JAMES R. WILLIAMS
    COUNTY COUNSEL
    OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNSEL, COUNTY
    OF SANTA CLARA
    70 WEST HEDDING STREET
    EAST WING, NINTH FLOOR
    SAN JOSE, CA 95110-1770
    408-299-2900
    [email protected]

    DAVID M. ZIONTS
    COVINGTON & BURLING LLP
    ONE CITYCENTER
    850 TENTH STREET, NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001
    202-662-6000
    [email protected]
    19-1019
    TEXAS, ET AL.
    CALIFORNIA, ET AL.

    JEREMY C. DOERRE
    TILLMAN WRIGHT PLLC
    3440 TORINGDON WAY
    SUITE 310
    CHARLOTTE, NC 28277
    704-248-4883
    [email protected]

    KYLE D. HAWKINS
    SOLICITOR GENERAL
    P.O. BOX 12548 (MC 059)
    AUSTIN, TX 78711-2548
    512-936-1700
    [email protected]

    ROBERT E. HENNEKE
    TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION FOR
    THE AMERICAN FUTURE
    901 CONGRESS AVENUE
    AUSTIN, TX 78701
    512-472-2700
    [email protected]

    DOUGLAS N. LETTER
    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
    219 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
    WASHINGTON, DC 20515-6532
    202-225-9700
    [email protected]
    SAMUEL PASSCHIER SIEGEL
    CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    1300 I STREET
    SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
    [email protected]

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