Majority in poll says SCOTUS should uphold ObamaCare

The majority of people in both parties say they would be opposed to a Supreme Court decision gutting a key provision of ObamaCare, according to a new poll.  

Plaintiffs in the case, King v. Burwell, claim that people in 37 states are illegally receiving subsidies under ObamaCare. But 61 percent say they hope the subsidies are upheld, according to a national survey conducted by Hart Research Associates for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

{mosads}Even if the Supreme Court rules against the Obama administration, most people believe the subsidies should be available to all Americans. Some 71 percent of people said it shouldn’t matter whether states set up their own exchanges in order to qualify for the subsidies — which is the central question in King v. Burwell.

The new figures reveal a major governing challenge for Republicans, who have long supported the case but remain divided on a strategy to prevent millions of people from losing their coverage and blaming the GOP.

“This case creates an enormous amount of vulnerability for Republican elected officials and congressional leaders,” said Geoffrey Garrin, president of the firm that conducted the polling. “There is nothing but trouble for Republicans in this case.”

The tax subsidies and the government marketplaces remain popular despite the controversy still surrounding the healthcare law. Just 16 percent oppose either of those provisions in the law.

SEIU announced results of the poll Monday, just days before the court hears oral arguments in the case. ObamaCare supporters, like the SEIU, have launched a national campaign this week to emphasize support for the subsidies and the law itself.

The results show there would be widespread disapproval if the court ruled against the Obama administration, even though the majority of people oppose the law politically.

Just one in five people believe the healthcare law should remain unchanged in its current language, the poll found. About half of people support repeal or “major changes” to the law, while 26 percent support “minor changes.”