With Supreme Court taking up anti-ACA lawsuit, Collins’ tax vote once again at issue

The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Monday it would take up a case that threatens to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Arguments are set to begin next term, which begins in October.

The case, Texas v. California, can be traced back to the 2017 GOP tax overhaul that repealed the ACA’s individual mandate. Spearheaded by state attorney generals from Texas and other Republican-controlled states, the case argues that the ACA is unconstitutional because without the individual mandate the law no longer operates under Congressional authority to impose a tax.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine cast a pivotal vote for the tax bill.

“Senator Collins has voted more than a dozen times to weaken and undermine the health care law, and two years ago, she was a critical vote for the bill that led to this lawsuit to overturn the health care law and eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions,” said Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, who is leading the pack of Democratic challengers looking to unseat Collins in November.

If the ACA is overturned, tens of millions of Americans could see their premiums rise or their health coverage eliminated.

“Senator Collins voted to put our health care at risk so her corporate special interest donors could get a tax break,” said Maine Democratic Party chair Kathleen Marra in response to the Supreme Court announcement. “Her indifference to the needs of everyday Mainers who depend on access to affordable care is exactly why Maine Democrats are ready to defeat Senator Collins in November and elect a new Senator who will fight for every Mainer.”

Willy Ritch, executive director of the progressive 16 Counties Coalition, which is focused on highlighting Collins’ record, said Monday there “is a clear line between the ongoing threat to affordable health care for Mainers’ and Susan Collins’ voting record.”

“Not only did she vote for the GOP tax bill that’s formed the backbone of this effort to sabotage the ACA, she also cast critical votes for partisan, conservative Supreme Court justices who are loyal to Mitch McConnell above all else,” Ritch added. “Senator Collins made a show of promising Mainers she would protect them by voting to uphold the ACA, but then turned around and gutted it with her vote for the Republican tax bill.”

Photo: Collins and Supreme Court Justice Bret Kavanaugh | Zach Gibson, Getty