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The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen at sunset

The Supreme Court Case To End the ACA

With hearings set to begin on October 12 for the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court and a potential confirmation vote by the end of the month, all eyes are on one of the very first cases that will come before the court after Election Day: Oral arguments will be held on November 10 for the Trump administration's lawsuit to terminate the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Repealing the ACA at any point since its passage would have been disastrous to the health and economic security of millions of Americans. But repealing the ACA right now—in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected more than 7 million Americans and killed more than 200,000 Americans—is morally reprehensible. A new analysis from CAP's health care experts reveals the sweeping impact that striking down the ACA could have and how it would sow chaos across America. Repealing specific provisions of the law—including the ACA's protections for preexisting conditions, dependent coverage, Medicaid expansion, premium tax credits, and prescription drug benefits, among others—could exacerbate current threats to individual and public health; stifle the economy; and increase racial and gender inequality.

But not all households will be harmed if the ACA is struck down. CAP's economic experts tell us the other side of the story: Wealthy Americans, including the billionaires whose fortunes have grown during the pandemic, would be showered with large tax cuts. Because the ACA was largely funded by taxes on wealthy corporations and individuals, these groups would receive windfalls if the law were overturned. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates that repealing the ACA's taxes would give the richest 0.1 percent of Americans—people making more than $3.8 million annually—tax cuts averaging $198,250. America's 100 richest billionaires stand to receive more than $12 billion in total tax cuts. Manufacturers and importers of prescription drugs would also stand to reap $2.8 billion from ending the annual fee on branded prescription drugs.

In the Spotlight: White Supremacy in Politics

Neo-Nazis and white supremacists march through the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 11, 2017

White supremacy has been ever-present in America, in the country's origins and its systems. So too, has the fight to end white supremacy, whether it be through physical battles, protests, movements, or laws. And while America has not yet been able to rid itself of white supremacy, it had at least reached the milestone where white supremacist ideas and rhetoric no longer had a place in political or public discourse. That, however, has been changing over recent years, and it should be cause for alarm.

As white supremacy has been allowed to re-infiltrate American political discourse, it has emboldened those white nationalists and supremacists to impose indescribable harm on communities throughout the United States. FBI Director Christopher Wray recently testified before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee revealing that the majority of domestic terrorism attacks have been perpetrated by white supremacist groups.

White supremacy can have no home in everyday politics, and it must be recognized and called out as intolerable. This CAP report identifies ways to recognize white supremacy in everyday politics and advocates support to civic leaders of all political persuasions who stand up to this poison.

Read more »

Meet CAP's Thought Leaders

Alexandra Schmitt, policy analyst, National Security & International Policy team

Alexandra Schmitt • @AlexCSchmitt
National Security & International Policy

"I'm interested in the intersection of human rights and U.S. national security, and work to find policy solutions that center human rights in our foreign policy. We have so much work to do at home and abroad to build a more perfect union where human rights are respected and protected by the government at all levels, in our domestic and foreign policy, and I hope my work can contribute to that in a small way."

Recent work: What the Intelligence Community Doesn't Know Is Hurting the United States

Follow American Progress on Instagram for more Thought Leaders.

Major Stories This Week

Two people walk down a flooded street in Rodanthe, North Carolina, as Hurricane Dorian hits Cape Hatteras on September 6, 2019

The Heightened Need for Equitable Preparedness

Here are the steps Congress must take in order to address the deadly threat of climate-fueled extreme weather amid the COVID-19 crisis and to ensure that the nation's most vulnerable communities have equitable resources to protect themselves and rebuild after storms.

People wait in line for food assistance cards in Brooklyn, New York, July 2020

The Black-White Unemployment Gap Is Built Into the Labor Market

Many economists find it promising that the U.S. unemployment rate has fallen, but it hasn't fallen for everyone. The Black unemployment rate is currently double the white unemployment rate. This gap has persisted through some of the best economies and through some of the most severe economic downturns.

Children are dropped off at a day care in Queens, New York, during phase four of the city's reopening following the coronavirus pandemic, July 2020

What Voters Want on Child Care

In a new study, American voters across demographic and partisan lines express strong support for increased governmental assistance on child care and back a range of specific actions to reduce costs and increase the quality of child care arrangements in the country.

Electric cars are parked at a car charging station at the University of Maryland, College Park

U.S. Electric Cars = More U.S. Jobs

By supporting high-quality domestic jobs building electric vehicles, policymakers can ensure that workers earn decent wages and help jump-start growth in other sectors by spending their earnings in their communities at the same time as protecting the environment.

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From Education to the Workforce: Building a Pipeline for LGBTQ Youth | RSVP

Friday, October 16, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Increasing Federal Investment in K-12 Public Education With an Equity Lens | RSVP

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