Lungren and Bera React to Supreme Court Ruling on Health Care

reacted to in very different ways.

Ami Bera praised the high court's decision that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is constitutional, while Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) called the ruling "very disappointing."

Bera, a doctor, said Thursday's court decision was "just the start" of health care reform, adding that health care costs are too high and decisions are often made by people other than doctors.

"We cannot go back to the days where thousands of patients with cancer, diabetes, and other life threatening conditions are denied care," Bera said in a press release. "We must ensure that all children have health coverage, and that seniors will no longer face the impossible choice of what prescriptions they can fill."

Meanwhile, Lungren criticised the court's ruling that the health care law's individual mandate could be allowed as a tax. He said lower courts, Democrats and even President Barack Obama have rejected that characterization.

"The Court today has said that Congress effectively has unlimited authority to tax the American people," Lungren said in a press release. "Above all, the Court has ratified a law that fundamentally alters the relationship between the federal government and the American people. The Court has upheld a law that I believe is not only unconstitutional but also fails to improve the quality of health care in this country."

Lungren went on to say he supports "targeted reforms that increase access to affordable, quality health care and places the individual and families in control of their own health care decisions."

This likely won't be the last time the issue comes up in this , as Bera's history as a doctor and a former Sacramento County Chief Medical Officer is one of his major campaign points.

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Which candidate's opinion do you agree with? Do you support Bera or Lungren's position? Let us know in the comments section below.

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