The Valley reacts to the Supreme Court's decision

Throughout the Valley, reactions to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act are beginning to make their way to The Vindicator newsroom. Here is a sample:

• “I see this as a historic moment, as historic as when the segregation decisions were made. We’re at a moment in history,” said William Padisak, president Trumbull Mahoning County AFL-CIO.

• "I got to raise prices to cover this ... For us small guys, that really hurts. Big corporate chains are different. I'm a small guy. It depends how many employees they're gonna put me under and how they are going to write it but its ... going to hurt," said Jack Doverspike, owner of Jib Jab Hot Dogs who lives in Liberty.

• “Private industry is going to have to pay for this. Someone has to pay for it and it’s not going to be the federal government,” said Brian Benyo, president and co-owner of Brilex Industries.

• "Mandated or not, the ability of patients to have access to medical insurance is good for any practice. The questions that remains are will the Affordable Care Act reduce the costs of health care overall ... and how will we pay for it," said James DeCenso, practice administrator at Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates in Canfield.

• "I'm happy for all of America. It really shows that Obama cares," said state Rep. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, who spearheaded a universal health care for Ohio legislative effort 20 years ago.

• "Chronic illness is largest cause of death in the United States, drives up the costs for health care, and impacts quality of life so dramatically. Improved access to health should lead to improved outcomes and lower costs," said Patricia Sweeney, commissioner of the Mahoning County District Board of Health.

• "Here's the good news for the people of eastern Ohio: The doughnut hole is closed; the costs of prescription drugs are lower, and families can keep children on their parents' plan until the age of 26," said Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, the Democrat challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson in what the polls show is a close race.

• "I am disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of Obamacare. It is a matter now that will again be fought in the political arena and will be the pre-eminent issue of the presidential campaign," said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

• "Supreme Court justices appointed by presidents of both parties today made an independent legal judgment to uphold the health law. I hope today's ruling will put an end to the partisan bickering so that we can continue our focus on jobs and improving the economy," U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said.