MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin says the Supreme Court's decision to uphold individual insurance is great news for Vermonters. His competitor this fall, does not agree. Republican Senator Randy Brock compared the ruling to the Titanic and says it's going to sink.
Vermonters anxiously awaited one of the nations most anticipated rulings in decades Thursday. MVP Healthcare who provides coverage to 700,000 people says this decision doesn't change a thing.
"Its been the law, we have been implementing and complying with the law," MVP Vice President, Frank Fanshawe said.
The landmark decision doesn't change anything if you already have a plan, if you don't, you'll be required to get one, or your taxes will increase. But for two people eyeing the state's top spot, this decision just heated up the November election. Governor Shumlin says this bill means that Vermont will get 400-million federal dollars for its share. "To help low and middle income Vermonters and small businesses pay for the ever rising cost of health insurance," Governor Shumlin said.
Republicans say just because the Supreme Court deemed this ruling constitutional, doesn't mean that it's good policy.
"To buy something that we have no description of, the real question is how do we know that we're going to save money? How do we even know that we're going to slow the increase in cost when we don't even know what we're going to spend?" Senator Brock questioned.
Governor Shumlin says he's already working with the Green Mountain Healthcare board to design a system that costs significantly less than what Vermonters are paying for health insurance right now.
