Health Care Hearings Barely Change Opinion Of Supreme Court, Law: Poll

Six hours of oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court over the health care law seemed to barely affect the public's opinion of the justices and the Affordable Care Act a new poll found.

A Pew Research Center poll this week said nearly two-thirds of Americans still have the same view of the Supreme Court and the health care law, while more than 20 percent said they had a less favorable opinion.

Only 7 percent said they came away with a more favorable view after hearing both sides of the case give detailed arguments and answer pointed questions from the justices on several important components of the Affordable Care Act.

When broken down by party, Republicans and independents were more down on the health care law than before, while Democrats' view of the Supreme Court was tarnished.

On the Affordable Care Act, 35 percent of Republicans said they have a less favorable view of the law after the health care arguments, compared to 13 percent of Democrats. Only three percent of Republicans came away with a better opinion of the health care law, while 12 percent of Democrats developed a more favorable opinion.

59% Unswayed By Historic Oral Arguments On Obamacare

More than a quarter of independents, 27 percent, said they had a less of a favorable view on the health care law, while 59 percent remained unswayed by the oral arguments. A scant six percent said they have a better opinion of the law.

When asked of their opinion on the Supreme Court, 32 percent of Democrats said they were turned off, likely due to the conservative justice's remarks seemingly in favor of the argument made by health care challengers. Only 14 percent of Republicans and 16 percent of independents came away with a worse opinion of the high court.

A poll taken before before the hearings last week showed most Americans believed the justices will let political ideology influence their decision. On the health care law itself, the unpopular individual mandate is seen as a likely casualty, though more said other parts of the Affordable Care Act will be upheld.

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