By ALEXIS ZOTOS
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Lots of questions remain unanswered in the wake of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling on health care reform. The high court upheld the bulk of its provisions including a requirement for Americans to carry health insurance.
And unless the law is overturned, Tennessee lawmakers will have to implement those provisions in the near future.
From both sides of the aisle, there is still a lot of surprise about the Supreme Court's decision. Now lawmakers are trying to understand what it means for the state and how and when they need to implement the new legislation.
"Unfortunately this decision yesterday is very far reaching in terms of saying Congress can tax inactivity. It's so far reaching, I don't think we yet know the full implications of it," said Sen. Doug Overbey, (R-Maryville).
State lawmakers are still reviewing the 100-plus page ruling to fully understand how Tennessee will move forward under the new law.
"When the Legislature reconvenes, we need to work alongside Gov. (Bill) Haslam and find every way that we can under yesterdays decision to protect the taxpayer dollar," Overbey said.
While not happy with the ruling, some GOP lawmakers agree, it wasn't all bad.
"I think the part where it says the federal government can't brow beat the states into taking certain action was good, and I think upholding the commerce clause was good," said Sen. Randy McNally, (R-Oak Ridge).
And yet many GOP lawmakers believe there is still a chance the law can be overturned. In a statement, Gov. Bill Haslam said, "It is up to Tennessee and Americans to turn their attention to the November election. By electing Mitt Romney we can be sure that the entire law will be repealed."
"I think this is a wake up call for folks to seize the moment in November," said Sen. Overbey.
But local Democrats believe the state needs to act now in setting up Tennessee's exchange system.
"Every state has the opportunity to create their own exchanges, legislate those exchanges and make them work for Tennesseans," said Gloria Johnson, chairwoman of the Knox County Democratic Party.
State Rep. Joe Armstrong (D-Knoxville) believes the state can't afford to wait until November.
"Gov. Haslam's intent in January was to set up the exchanges, but the Legislature convinced him to delay it. So I think Tennessee needs to move forward expeditiously. Otherwise the federal government is going to come in and establish it for us," Armstrong said.
Prior to the ruling, Gov. Haslam said Tennessee was on the right track to set up the exchanges or health insurance market places by the deadline.
States must be able to demonstrate to the Department of Health and Human Services by January 2013 that those exchanges will be in operation by January 2014.
