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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree strongly criticized a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being heard in the U.S. Supreme Court today.  Opponents of the law are trying to strike down a key provision that allows millions of Americans—including 67,000 people in Maine—to receive subsidies that make health care coverage affordable.

"This is a baseless, ideologically-motivated lawsuit brought by a small group of activists who have opposed health care reform since thebeginning," Pingree said.  "This law was thoroughly debated, passed by Congress, signed by the President, has already been ruled on by the Supreme Court once and most importantly is making health care affordable for millions of Americans.  The time for political attacks on this law has passed and it's time for opponents to stop trying to take away health care for these families."

In King v. Burwell, opponents of the law argue that a single phrase in the law means that consumers in dozens of states that buy their health care coverage through a federally operated "exchange" are not eligible for premium subsidies.  Nearly 75,000 people have signed up in Maine and almost 90% of them receive subsidies that are at risk in this case.

"I was there when this law was written and debated and I can tell you no one thought that Congress intended that consumers in states like Maine shouldn't get these subsidies," Pingree said.  "That's a ridiculous argument and opponents of health care reform are trying to use some sort of technicality to take away coverage for millions of Americans.  The groups behind this case simply don't believe Americans have a right to health care coverage and they are literally playing with people's lives with this lawsuit."

Studies from the Urban Institute and Harvard University show that between 8,000 and 10,000 more Americans a year would die if the Supreme Court blocks this critical component of the ACA.