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A federal judge in Texas issued a ruling Friday declaring the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, apparently setting the stage for another hearing on the health care law by the U.S. Supreme Court.

 by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor invalidates what's commonly referred to as Obamacare nationwide and casts into doubt the survival of the law on the eve of the deadline for tens of millions of Americans to sign up for health care coverage in 2019.



The ruling comes in a lawsuit brought against what was one of the major domestic achievements of the Obama administration. An alliance of 19 Republican attorneys general and a governor led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged the law.

In his 55-page opinion,O'Connor said the debate over the ACA's interlocking provisions is "like watching a slow game of Jenga, each party poking at a different provision to see if the ACA falls."

In a statement, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders praised the ruling.

, "As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions."
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who led the coalition of states that defended the ACA 

 to preserve the law.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to be House speaker when Democrats come into the majority next month, 

, "Tonight's absurd ruling exposes the monstrous endgame of the GOP's all-out assault on people w/ pre-existing conditions & the ACA. When 

 take the gavel, the House will swiftly intervene in the appeals process to 

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President Trump praised the ruling by a court in Texas as supporters of the ACA said they will appeal.

Federal judge strikes down Affordable Care Act

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