For the second June in four years, the Supreme Court, led by its conservative chief justice, John G. Roberts Jr., has affirmed the legal framework of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 — the signature achievement of the Obama-era Democratic Party and a national social policy landmark. …
Of course the partisan clamor is not over. In coming months, many congressional Republicans and presidential contenders will continue to make loud promises about repeal (or “repeal and replace,” with replacements never specified), because the “Obamacare” label is unpopular with a majority of Republicans. But in 2016 general election campaigns the sound and fury will be muted, because most independents and Democrats do not want repeal or big disruptions and majorities of rank-and-file Republicans favor the tangible benefits. CONT.
Theda Skocpol (Harvard) & Lawrence R. Jacobs (U. of Minn.), New York Times
Recent polls: Affordable Care Act