A constitutional question
The landmark health care bill was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama just over a year ago, but today it appears the highest court in the land will determine its ultimate fate. Experts agree that a number of federal court challenges questioning its legality mean the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is almost certainly destined for the Supreme Court. Thus far five federal court judges have ruled on the law, which guarantees access to health care to millions of Americans through an individual mandate requiring people to purchase insurance or pay a tax. Three courts have supported it, while two have challenged its constitutionality, including one in Florida that recently declared the entire statute invalid. But before heading to Washington, the debate took a Harvard detour. On Thursday (March 24), a year and a day after President Obama made the law official, three legal scholars took up the question...