State nullification of ObamaCare may be on the legislative agenda next session.

The United States Supreme Court ruled in a five to four decision on Thursday that The Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 known as  “ObamaCare” is constitutional as a mandate just as the government mandates an individual to pay taxes. In other words, the government can force an individual to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty tax if they do not just as the government can force an individual to pay income taxes.

In the ruling, the high court stated that the states cannot be sanctioned if they chose not to expand Medicaid through The Affordable Health Care Act.

Broken Arrow Republican State Representative Dr. Mike Ritze, who represents  District 80 in the state house, is a family physician and surgeon. Ritze said he authored a nullification bill regarding ObamaCare last session which was passed out of the judiciary committee but never brought for a vote on the house floor.

Ritze released a press statement in which he stated “I am going to continue my efforts to pass legislation in Oklahoma to nullify the law in our state.”  Ritze continued, “Although most Americans want to see our health care system improved, they do not want the government to take it over or to make important decisions for them. There is a conservative approach to fixing the system, which is to remove the government intervention already in place that has kept it from being a truly free market system.”

The Justices in the majority decision were Chief Justice John Roberts appointed by President George W. Bush, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer both appointed by President Clinton, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan both appointed by President Obama. Dissenting Justices were Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy both appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Clarence Thomas appointed by President George H.W. Bush, and Samuel Alito appointed by President George W. Bush.

The Health and Human Services mandate that religious organizations provide abortion drugs and contraception to employees is still in the courts and not directly affected by Thursday’s decision. However, had the court ruled ObamaCare unconstitutional, the HHS mandate would be null and void. Many Catholic hospitals and universities have sued the federal government over this mandate in ObamaCare.

President Obama called the high court’s decision a victory and said that no one with a pre-existing medical condition will now be discriminated against and people will be able to afford quality health care. The President said no one should face financial ruin because they get sick.

Presumptive Republican party presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced he will repeal The Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 should he be elected in November.