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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories (No heading) Jackson County declares drought disaster Jason Atkinson in line for Fish and Wildlife Commission post City board topples elevated housing plan Drunk driver gets 13 months for hitting pedestrian Crime, Courts and Emergency Services (No heading) Drunk driver gets 13 months for hitting pedestrian Jackson County honors fallen police Feds allege Georgia, Maryland residents defrauded Oregon taxpayers of more than $2 million Three men charged in Prospect area burglaries Politics and Elections Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Education South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Medford garage sale will put books in African kids' hands Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Latino parents: More bilingual staff needed in Medford schools Medford schools still filling admin roles Environment Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks State News Oregon House: Bikers who can't get a green light may turn on red Incoming president tours University of Oregon campus West Linn police officer leads state in DUII arrests Oil industry challenges rules meant to stop train explosions Crooked River Ranch residents stumped by bare shoe tree Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Verla Jean Rametes Death Notices Doris Oka Chang Patrick Joseph Mulcahy Dr. Stephen Gallier Dippel Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Tornado trips up Thurston in SWC tilt Warriors rise Beavers tie school home run record in rout Horford's late follow gives Hawks win Kluber strikes out 18, Indians top Cardinals Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers tie school home run record in rout A Wise freshman leads the Ducks Baldovino, Concordia upset No. 1 Oklahoma City Northwestern’s Wu chosen for NCAA field Oregon State AD De Carolis to step down Pro Sports Warriors rise Horford's late follow gives Hawks win Kluber strikes out 18, Indians top Cardinals Rogues to host summer baseball camps MLB pumps up ball security after Brady flap Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Blog: Cash deals for homes inches toward normal levels Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Cars We Remember: Noted musician unravels 55-year Nash Rambler mystery Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Letters to the Editor, May 14 Dana Milbank: Power to the populists Granlund cartoon: Christianity declining in US Editorials Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority Other Views: Court ruling means PERS reform is dead Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 14 Letters to the Editor, May 13 Letters to the Editor, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 11 Letters to the Editor, May 10 Columns George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Dana Milbank: Power to the populists Kathleen Parker: Defining deity down: Changing others' religion Guest Opinion: Ample water? 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Infante: ‘Avengers’ begs the questions, ‘Why superheroes, and why now?’ Dining Quick, easy, versatile Restaurant Inspections: April 2015 Restaurant inspections: May 10, 2015 Wood-fired pies at Peace of Pizza Trium is a classic example of a boutique winery Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead ... Jackson County declares drought disaster ... Jason Atkinson in line for Fish and Wildlife Commission post ... Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead ... Jackson County declares drought disaster ... Jason Atkinson in line for Fish and Wildlife Commission post ... ANOTHER VIEW High court could be death of Obamacare Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 13, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Nov. 13, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News So it turns out there is an Obamacare death panel after all. It has nine members and it operates out of a marble building directly across the street from the Capitol. When the Supreme Court on Friday announced that it would take up another challenge to the Affordable Care Act in March, it delivered the threat of two mortal blows to the signature achievement of the Obama presidency. First, it raised the possibility that the justices, who narrowly spared the law in 2012, will in June come out with a new ruling that would dismantle the law on different grounds. But even if the justices make no such ruling, the very act of taking up the challenge will itself undermine the law. The justices announced their decision just a week before the open-enrollment period for 2015 begins — and the looming possibility that the high court will strike down the law will probably deter those who are considering signing up for its coverage. Thus did Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the new secretary of Health and Human Services, find herself in a defensive posture Monday afternoon, even though she was in the friendly environs of the liberal Center for American Progress. An event had been scheduled to generate enthusiasm for the new open-enrollment season, but the host, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, had little choice but to acknowledge the elephant in the room. "What do you want consumers to know and should they be concerned, as we head into this open-enrollment period, about this Supreme Court decision?" he asked gingerly. Burwell's practiced reply: Nothing to see here. "The most important thing for consumers to know is that nothing has changed," she said, assuring all that the law's tax credits would continue. "And so as we go into open enrollment, nothing has changed," she repeated. She kept her face determinedly in a smile, though nothing about the gesture indicated pleasure. Strickland coached her further, asking whether she expects that "the court will ultimately make the correct decision and this will no longer be a problem?" "That's correct," the secretary replied. "And I think what's most important is that nothing has changed. And as we go into this open enrollment, which we'll be starting this Saturday ... nothing has changed." For those keeping score, Burwell managed to say "nothing has changed" four times in 90 seconds. And she's right, technically. Nothing has changed, and nothing will, at least until the Supreme Court rules. The trouble is the doubt among potential enrollees the Supreme Court has created by raising the possibility that the law will be eliminated — just like the doubt created when HealthCare.gov flopped a year ago, and the doubt Republicans have tried to create with incessant talk of repealing the law. Further complicating Burwell's don't-worry message to the liberal think tank: The administration had just cut its forecasts for Obamacare enrollment in 2015 — an effort to lower expectations. Previously, the Congressional Budget Office had forecast enrollment of 13 million by the end of the year. If Burwell was having a rough time even among friends, foes of the law were delighted by the Supreme Court's unexpected move. Before the American Progress event, I dropped by a session at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a major victor in the 2014 midterms, to hear a presentation by Douglas Holtz-Eakin and other conservative economists. It had been a subdued affair, full of charts and statistics, but the economists became animated when I asked about the Obamacare case. Holtz-Eakin said the justices could strike down "the heart of the transfer program" that is the underpinning of Obamacare and would "accelerate the process" toward the program's demise. Marty Regalia, the chamber's chief economist, agreed that if the court goes his way, it's just a matter of the "semantics of whether you've repealed the act and replaced it, or changed it fundamentally." Even the Center for American Progress blog, Think Progress, explained how, under an adverse ruling, premiums would soar, millions would lose coverage, and "Obamacare will face a death spiral." Strickland, now an official at the center, proved a gentle questioner, touting the law's successes and suggesting to Burwell that there should be "a greater cheerleader section" for the law. Burwell kept smiling and offering assurances. But when Strickland asked whether relentless opposition to the law was "creating doubt" in the minds of potential Obamacare enrollees about whether "the ACA is here to stay," Burwell replied: "I will not say anything other than that is extremely difficult." Particularly when the opponents wear black robes. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 13, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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