WASHINGTON (AP) — Several Supreme Court justices seemed receptive Wednesday to the idea that portions of President Barack Obama's health care law can survive even if the court declares the centerpiece unconstitutional.
On the third and last day of arguments, the justices seemed skeptical of the position taken by Paul Clement, a lawyer for 26 states seeking to have the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act tossed out in its entirety.
In their questions, liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ruth Bader Ginsburg — and conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, too — seemed open to the idea that the wide-ranging law contains provisions that can be saved — even if the requirement that Americans carry health insurance or pay a penalty is struck down.
"The rest of the law cannot stand," Clement told the justices.
"What's wrong with leaving this in the hands of those who should be fixing this?" asked Sotomayor, referring to Congress.
Roberts noted the changes in the law besides the insurance mandate.
