U. S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Obama's heathcare law requiring most Americans to have health insurance by 2014, decision expected in June

The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court

By Kathy Wray Coleman, Editor, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com) and (www.clevelandurbannews.com)

WASHINGTON, D.C.-President Obama's sweeping healthcare law that was adopted by Congress in 2010 before a divided America and requires among other mandates that most Americans hold heath insurance by 2014 or face a penalty is now before the conservative leaning U.S. Supreme Court with tense oral arguments from both sides ending on Wed.

At issue is the power of Congress to mandate that all Americans have healthcare insurance during a debilitating economy and whether the mandate is so overreaching that it gives rise to an unconstitutional requirement.

Challenging the law are 26 states, including Ohio, and a small-business trade group.

They court will decide which provisions of the controversial law to throw out and which to keep, if any.

The nine justices, only Justice Clarence Thomas of whom is Black and who also is expected to vote against the law, are expected to issues a decision by June, just months before the president's reelection bid on November 6.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy, both conservatives, are the most watched on the decision as they were the most aggressive in questioning lawyers for the Obama administration on the controversial issue.

The nation's high court is no doubt divided on the issue.

If the five conservative justices remain unified, the law would lose, but if only one conservative joins the four liberals, the law would be upheld.

"The Affordable Care Act addresses a fundamental and enduring problem in our healthcare system and our economy, " said Solicitor General Donald Verrilli in arguing for the law on behalf of the Obama administration.

Obama has appointed two of the nine justices.

Sonia Sotomayor was appointed to replace Justice David Souter upon his retirement, and former Solicitor General Elena Kagan replaced John Paul Stevens, who also retired.

Both Sotomayer and Kagan are among the four liberal justices expected to endorse the law.

Reach Journalist Kathy Wray Coleman at www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, ktcoleman8@aol.com and phone number: 216-932-3114.