MD Leaders' Reactions to Supreme Court Decision

Maryland leaders' reactions to the historic Supreme Court decision Thursday to uphold the Affordable Care Act ranged from calling it an to saying it was a decision that will protect millions of lives.

GOV. MARTIN O’MALLEY: “By 2014, no American will be denied health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition.”

: “Now that the Supreme Court has ruled this is the law of the land, we can start explaining it to the average citizen what it means."

 “I think it’s going to be one of the if not the biggest issue(s) in the election…It could be an albatross to hang around the president’s neck and make it difficult for re-election.”

: "It was pretty wild," Richardson said of the atmosphere in Washington Thursday morning. "People were either excited or terrified."

: "Before this law, every responsible American with health insurance was subsidizing the health care needs of the rest.”

: “The decision is better than historic, it is caring.…People now can get the care they need without the fear of financial devastation."

"Sounds like a major increase in government spending, size and taxes...good for those who do not pay taxes and or get tax refunds; very unnerving for those who pay taxes..."

 “The Supreme Court’s decision determined the law’s constitutionality, not whether the law is good policy.”