This week in benefits

PPACA takes one step closer to the Supreme Court. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit heard two cases this week challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act – Liberty University v. Timothy Geithner and Commonwealth of Virginia v. Sebelius. The cases were heard by a three-judge panel randomly selected by a computer. Fox News called it an “Obama-friendly court,” given that two judges were appointed by Obama and one by Clinton. The Court is expected to issue its ruling this summer, after which the cases are expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court, where the constitutionality of PPACA will be ultimately decided. 

Will Republicans advocate universal health care in 2012? OK, probably not, but several GOP presidential hopefuls certainly did at one time or another.  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who tweeted his intention to run for president this week, has been “a vocal champion for mandated insurance coverage.” Even “The Donald” has trumpeted the need for a universal health care system in the not-so-distant past.