Area residents came out in front of Brooks Memorial Hospital with signs and balloons in support of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act Thursday evening.
The group was organized by Natalie Luscowiak, Health Issues Organizer for Western New York Citizen Action.
County Legislator Tom DeJoe of Brocton attended and said he is relieved by the decision. "I'm proud that the right thing has been done by the Supreme Court. Sixty percent of people in this country don't have health insurance, and that's a sad fact. I hope this will help that situation," he said.
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OBSERVER Photo by Shirley Pulawski
Area residents in support of the Affordable Care Act came out Thursday evening to show support for the Supreme Court decision.
Erik Coler, local delegate to the Democratic National Convention was also in attendance. "I would like to applaud the Supreme Court and their decision to uphold the Affordable Health Care Act. The provisions and benefits that it will bring for Western New York will help our communities, and state, and the country as a whole," he said.
Coler said he feels the law is misunderstood. "Opponents of this law claim this law increases debt, and that the county can't afford it. In reality what our county can't afford are more and more taxpayers being burdened with thousands of dollars worth of medical bills because they or a family member became ill unexpectedly," he said.
Judy Lutz-Woods is a Fredonia resident and an activist with Western New York Citizen Action. "I just want to echo what the president said. This is not a political win, this is a win for the American people. I'd like to thank the Supreme Court and especially Justice (John) Roberts for putting aside partisan politics aside and putting country truly first," she said. "I'm a senior, and I can tell you it really does help closing that doughnut hole. And you know, anyone my age has a pre-existing condition."
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