Once news broke that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold the Affordable Health Care Act, Stillwater-area folks started issuing statements and leaving comments. Here are some of them:

Sixth District Rep. Michele Bachmann was in the courtroom as the opinion was read. She has been a long-time advocate of repealing the President’s health care overhaul.

This statement was issued by HealthPartners President and CEO Mary Brainerd: 

“The Supreme Court decision to uphold the requirement that individuals have health insurance makes sense. Without that requirement, health care and health insurance would be less affordable for everyone because many wouldn’t buy insurance until they were already ill or needed coverage.

“But adjustments in the law are still needed to make sure that coverage is affordable. In the current law, individuals and small employers will pay for more of the costs, and we are concerned about that. We also want individuals and families to have choices about the coverage that works best for their needs. Congressional action is needed to make important improvements to ensure affordability and choice.

“HealthPartners is committed to providing affordable health care and coverage for all and we have not waited for reform. We have worked to change how care is delivered and have worked to achieve high-quality, affordable health care and an exceptional experience for everyone.”

Here's a statement Bachmann issued this morning after the ruling:

“I am deeply disappointed by the court’s decision. Today’s Supreme Court decision raises the stakes for the coming months. Since Congress passed Obamacare in 2010, I have made its repeal my top priority. After leading thousands to Washington to speak against its passage, I was the first to introduce the bill to repeal it. Obamacare represents the largest expansion of entitlement spending and a playground of left-wing social engineering in our country’s history and must be stopped. Now, the only way to save the country from Obamacare’s budget-busting government takeover of health care is to completely repeal it. I disagree with the court’s ruling and expansion of government power under the commerce clause. Government should never have the right to tell Americans what they must purchase. 

“Under President Obama’s signature legislation, health care costs continue to skyrocket, and up to 20 million Americans could lose their employer-based coverage. Innovations in life-saving medical technology, a significant industry in Minnesota is threatened. Meanwhile, a panel of unelected bureaucrats now has the unprecedented authority to come between elderly patients and their doctors. Obamacare is socialized medicine that threatens the quality of our health care and worse, the foundations of our republic.   

“We must replace Obamacare with a system that allows portability, allows individuals to purchase healthcare across state lines, allows individuals to purchase the plan of their choice, and includes tort reform. Real health care reform is about bringing down the cost of healthcare through free-market competition. Real health care reform is about giving families more choices, not less. It is not about empowering big government where doctors and patients have little to no say in the quality of care they receive.

“Every American should have the opportunity to provide health care for themselves and their family and the freedom to choose the plan that’s best for them.  Health care reforms should ensure families and doctors make health care decisions – not Washington bureaucrats and politicians. Millions of Americans are still without access to affordable health care. The Supreme Court’s decision didn’t change that.  Americans deserve real market based reforms, not big government, to increase access to the greatest health care system in the world.”

Here's Fourth District Rep. Betty McCollum's statement:

“Two years ago, I was proud to vote in support of the Affordable Care Act.  Today’s historic Supreme Court decision affirms President Obama’s leadership to extend healthcare coverage to millions of Americans. It is now time for Republicans in Congress to end their vitriolic repeal campaign and work on effectively implementing this law to the benefit of the American people.”

This from Governor Mark Dayton's Facebook page:

Today, Governor Mark Dayton released the following statement on the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act:

“I am very pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision to fully uphold the Affordable Care Act. Today’s ruling will be met with relief by the Minnesotans whose lives have already been improved by this law. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, affirmed by the Supreme Court today:

• Minnesotans can no longer be denied coverage for preexisting conditions.
• Seniors pay less for prescription drugs
• Small businesses will have affordable insurance options for employees
• Young people can continue to be covered by their parents' health insurance until age 26. 

“This ruling is also an affirmation of the reform efforts currently underway in Minnesota to improve the quality and lower the cost of health care. We have long been a national leader in healthcare reform –a reputation that will be enhanced as we work with private and public sector leaders to implement the Affordable Care Act in Minnesota.”

Here's some comments from users of Stillwater Patch's Facebook page:

• Heather Shannon Hansen: "YAY!"
• Kate Krisik: "Great news for folks with pre-existing medical conditions and others too. Shocked that Justice Roberts was in the majority!"
• Sandy Lamb: "I'm curious as to how this is going to be spun. But I for one am glad to finally have a chance at health care."
• Curtis Waterhouse: "Soooo... I HAVE to pay for others health insurance? Bad idea, if the people who earned it start laxing, because SOMEONE ELSE will fit the bill? Why try and earn it if you let others and taxes fit the bill? Keep some of the bill, such as, pre-existing conditions, and other tidbits, but I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR OTHER PEOPLES HEALTH INSURANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! Obama MUST go!!!!!!!"
• Amy Emerson: "We HAVE been paying for other people's health insurance for DECADES!!!"
• Stacey Whaley Schmidt: "People need to vote smart this November...take off the rose colored glasses and look at it objectively! Socialism...here we come. :/"