Congressmen split on health care ruling

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Initial reaction from New Mexico's congressional delegation to the Supreme Court's decision upholding the Affordable Care Act unsurprisingly split fell along party lines.

Democratic Sen. Tom Udall released a statement saying the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act is the best possible outcome for the American people.

"For these families, health care is an economic matter with the very real consequences of life, death and bankruptcy," he said.

In a satellite interview with KRQE News 13 Republican Rep. Steve Pearce of New Mexico's Second Congressional District said he is disappointed with the Supreme Court decision that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. Now Congress and the American people must move to repeal the law, he said.

"We have to live with it," Pearce said. "I respect their ability to make the decision, but now it's up to us in Congress and it's up to us as people to have a president that would sign it.

"We know pres Obama wouldn't have signed the bill to repeal so why don't we all get together to elect a president who will sign the repeal."

Pearce and Udall do agree there are positive pieces of the health care act like keeping young adults on their parents' insurance coverage until they are 26 and a health insurance exchange program that provide options for small business and individuals.

Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich also released a statement citing the benefits to New Mexicans of expanding access to health care and saying it's time to move on to getting the economy back on track.

“The finger-pointing needs to end and Washington needs to get its priorities straight by cutting waste and ending the Bush tax breaks for millionaires and companies that outsource jobs, so we can focus on job creation and strengthening Social Security and Medicare," Heinrich said.