Texas reaction to health care ruling

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the national health care ruling in Texas, which has about 6.2 uninsured people, falls along party lines.

Here's a sampling:

Gov. Rick Perry, Republican

"This ruling will be a stomach punch to the American economy. It is a shocking disappointment to freedom-loving Americans desperate to get our country back on track. Obamacare is bad for the economy, bad for health care, bad for freedom. Americans have made clear their overwhelming opposition to its convoluted, burdensome and overreaching mandates.

“Freedom was frontally attacked by passage of this monstrosity – and the Court utterly failed in its duty to uphold the Constitutional limits placed on Washington. Now that the Supreme Court has abandoned us, we citizens must take action at every level of government and demand real reform, done with respect for our Constitution and our liberty.”

• Summary of ruling in the video at left

Attorney General Greg Abbott, Republican

"Although the individual mandate was ruled unconstitutional, the remainder of ObamaCare may be on life support—and we will continue our work to pull the plug on this unworkable and unpopular law. It is time for Congress to step in and end the ObamaCare nightmare by repealing an unprecedented tax on all Americans."

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin

“This is a significant victory for every family and small business denied insurance or overcharged or mistreated by an insurer. And it is a victory for seniors who gain better Medicare coverage. Now we must continue our struggle to overcome the naysayers and obstructionists to assure each family has access to a family doctor.”

U.S Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican

“The Supreme Court has declared the health care law constitutional, but that doesn’t make it good policy. In fact, the majority said it was not ruling on fairness or wisdom of health care policy, but instead on the power of Congress to levy taxes."

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Republican

“While I am disappointed in the outcome, there will be plenty of time to debate the Court’s decision; now we must focus on electing Republicans in November who will end ObamaCare and put Americans back to work.”

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Republican U.S. Senate candidate

Obamacare has been a disaster since it was passed, increasing America's tax burden to cover the out of control costs. Obamacare has further weakened our economy."

Ted Cruz , Republican U.S. Senate candidate

"This is a sad day for liberty. The Supreme Court has abdicated its responsibility to safeguard the Constitution, and it has rewritten Obamacare in an ill-advised attempt to save it," Former Texas Solicitor General

Paul Sadler, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate

"The decision of the Supreme Court is a great victory for the citizens of this country who already have insurance, as well as those in need of health care."

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio

"The Texas House will do its part during the next session by attempting to limit any negative impact the law might have on our state."

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston

The law is already working. In Texas, 357,000 young adults gained insurance coverage as a result of the health care law, 22,1395 people with Medicare received a $250 rebate to help pay for their prescription drugs, and 2,208,969 people with Medicare received free preventive services such as cancer screenings and annual wellness visits.

State Sen. Jane Nelson, Republican, chairs Health/Human Services Committee

"Taxpayers cannot afford the astronomic price tag of this ill-conceived plan, which will hurt employers and weaken our economy. The health care system is nowhere near ready for the massive influx of patients who will be forced to buy coverage, especially given our existing health care workforce shortages. The future of this law is now in the hands of voters.”

Dr. Michael E. Speer, president, Texas Medical Association

“One thing today’s ruling has not, and cannot, change is Texas physicians’ deep commitment to care for our patients. The well-being of our patients comes first.

“The Texas Medical Association has said since Day One that we need to find what’s missing, keep what works, and fix what’s broken in the new law. We absolutely must reduce the law’s red tape and bureaucracy that interfere with patient care. Today’s health care system is riddled with hundreds of regulations imposed by federal health law that do little to improve patient care but instead divert our time and energy away from our patients.

Dr. James Rohack, Center for Healthcare Policy, Scott & White

"The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will extend coverage to an additional 4.1 million Texans. Our experience tells us that access to timely, affordable health care especially primary care can lead to better outcomes at lower costs, will provide patients a better quality of life and can close gaps in health disparities.

"The (act's) individual requirement