Supreme Court battle pivots to future of Obamacare

The future of Obamacare has taken centre-stage in the battle to appoint a successor to Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.

Democrats, who are powerless to block the nomination of conservative Amy Coney Barrett, are focusing their attack on fears that the Supreme Court will strike out the entire Affordable Care Act.

Donald Trump appeared to confirm their fears on Twitter on Sunday.

“Obamacare will be replaced with a MUCH better, and FAR cheaper, alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court. Would be a big WIN for the USA!” he tweeted.

In November the Supreme Court is due to hear a case brought by a coalition of Republican states calling for the flagship legislation of the Obama administration to be struck down in its entirety.

President Trump and Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate,  are determined to have Ms Barrett confirmed  by then, which would give the conservatives a 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court.

On Fox News Sunday, Democratic senator Debbie Stabenow highlighted how Ms Barrett has already gone on record criticising courts which have upheld Obamacare.

"It’s very clear from her writings, multiple writings, that she will be the vote that takes away health care for millions of Americans, including 130 million people and counting with pre-existing conditions, and of course those are going up every day because of the health pandemic,” she said.

Over the weekend, Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that Ms Barrett’s confirmation hearing would begin on October 12.

It is expected to last three to four days, ensuring that her nomination should be confirmed ahead of the election on November 3.

The move flies in the face of public opinion, with a poll showing that 57 per cent of voters believed the decision should be taken by the next president.