Supreme Court Ruling Won’t End Health Care Debate

Arkansas Times senior editor and lead blogger, Max Brantley, and Republican political strategist Clint Reed of Impact Management Group agree on one thing: The Supreme Court decision on the federal health care law won't settle the issue.

Brantley and Reed appeared on this week's edition of Talk Business to discuss health care reform, the state Supreme Court decision on executions,  judicial elections, and this fall's legislative match-ups.

“Health care is going to be debated until everybody has it,” said Brantley. “I think the Supreme Court will make a political decision and knock down part, if not all, the law. The unfortunate thing for those who think health care reform was a good thing is that the real political fall-out – that is the millions of people who will lose benefits gained under this law – won't really become apparent until after the November election.”

“I think no matter what they rule on it will have political ramifications all across the country, certainly i

n the state of Arkansas as you look at the popularity of Barack Obama and how that might impact legislative races which might impact control of the House and the Senate. But by no means is it over. It's far from over,” Reed said.

Reed also said that the health care controversy was likely to move the issue to No. 2, behind the economy, in voters' minds in 2012.

“If this decision comes down next week, no matter what the decision is, health care is going to be the No. 2 issue,” Reed said. “That's not a winner for Barack Obama, it's certainly not a winner for Democrats.”

“You have to admit there's some irony in this,” said Brantley. “Barack Obama tried to give more people health care, something that everybody seems to want, and we're going to cheer people losing health care. I think the paradox is crazy.”

You can watch their full exchange in the video below.