White House: No Contingencies for Health Care Law

Earnest faced a barrage of questions in the face of skepticism voiced by conservative justices that indicated that the law's key provision requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance was in jeopardy.

"Anybody who believes you can try to predict the outcome of the Supreme Court based solely on the questions of the justices is not a very good student of the Supreme Court," Earnest said, adding that conservative judges in a lower court were equally tough in their questions only to decide that the law was constitutional.

Earlier in the day, White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler issued a statement saying Solicitor General Donald Verrilli has "ably and skillfully represented the United States before the Supreme Court." Ruemmler praised Verrilli for his "keen judgment" and "unquestionable integrity."

Verrilli is the Obama administration's official representative before the Supreme Court. He's tasked with arguing in favor of a provision in the health care law that requires nearly every American to carry insurance, and he's faced tough questions from many of the justices about the constitutionality of the mandate.

For up-to-the-minute coverage of the Supreme Court hearing of PPACA, visit www.lifehealthpro.com/PPACA.