I take it back. The health care argument today wasn't entirely off-topic.
One of the issues discussed was whether failure to buy insurance had any legal consequence other than payment of a tax penalty. On page 45 of the transcript, Justice Sotomayor wants to know if nonpurchase would be a violation of probation.
When a defendant is put on probation after conviction of a criminal offense, a common condition is a requirement to obey all laws. The condition allows probation to be revoked and the offender sent to prison or jail for just about any violation. Not buying insurance? Well, driving a car without insurance is a violation, but you have the choice not to drive. Could not buying health insurance be a violation of the law for this purpose? We'll see if this comes up again tomorrow.
One of the issues discussed was whether failure to buy insurance had any legal consequence other than payment of a tax penalty. On page 45 of the transcript, Justice Sotomayor wants to know if nonpurchase would be a violation of probation.
When a defendant is put on probation after conviction of a criminal offense, a common condition is a requirement to obey all laws. The condition allows probation to be revoked and the offender sent to prison or jail for just about any violation. Not buying insurance? Well, driving a car without insurance is a violation, but you have the choice not to drive. Could not buying health insurance be a violation of the law for this purpose? We'll see if this comes up again tomorrow.
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