Joe Biden is set to deliver remarks today (Nov. 10) in support of the Affordable Care Act as the Supreme Court weighs in on whether or not a provision in the landmark healthcare law is constitutional. The president-elect will speak from Wilmington, Delaware on the same day that the Court will hear arguments for and against the Obama-era act.
According to CBS, Biden’s remarks will focus on the “stakes for families across the country” as he prepares to take office this January amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. Eight years ago, the Supreme Court ruled to leave the law intact, but Donald Trump and his Republican allies have fought for it to be overturned. If the Conservative-majority on the Court sides with Trump, millions of Americans could lose their healthcare coverage.
Biden will reportedly be joined by his Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in one of their first transitional actions. Trump’s refusal to admit defeat in the election has pushed his General Services Administration appointee, Administrator Emily Murphy, to not formally recognize Biden as the president-elect — hindering an already bumpy transition process.
On Monday (Nov. 9) Biden turned his attention back to the pandemic and healthcare by unveiling his administration’s upcoming seven-point defense plan.
“This election is over,” he said. “It’s time to put aside the partisanship and the rhetoric that is designed to demonize one another… We could save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months. Not Democratic or Republican lives; American lives.”
After serving as vice president to Barack Obama — who passed the Affordable Care Act — Biden has pledged to build on to the healthcare law while championing a “public option” that would allow more people to opt in to the government-sponsored health insurance, while others can stay with their current employer-based coverage.