April 8, 2010 3:41PM 

# Mandate Denial 

By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) 

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Supporters of ObamaCare are shifting into full-denial mode.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D‑FL) recently told an incredulous town-hall crowd that [ObamaCare does not, in fact, require you to purchase health insurance](http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?v=XdkU6UaGaG).

Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s announcement came as a surprise to those of us familiar with [the bill](http://democrats.senate.gov/reform/patient-protection-affordable-care-act-as-passed.pdf), which added to Subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code a new Chapter 48, whose first section (Section 5000A) is titled, “REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE” ([see p. 126](http://democrats.senate.gov/reform/patient-protection-affordable-care-act-as-passed.pdf); all-caps in original). Subparagraph (b)(3) even provides for “PAYMENT OF PENALTY” if you don’t comply with the “REQUIREMENT.”

ObamaCare’s supporters are still looking for [ways to hide](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11591) [what they’ve done](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10576).

Repeal the bill.

##### Related Tags 

[Health Care](https://www.cato.org/health-care) 

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