Biden defends health care law as high court mulls its fate

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden is championing Obama ministration's signature health law as it goes before Supreme Court in a case that could overturn it.

He will deliver a speech on Affordable Care Act on Tuesday, same day high court will hear arguments on its merits. It ruled eight years ago to leave essential components of law kwn as Obamacare intact, but is w controlled 6-3 by a conservative majority after President Donald Trump's appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

speech reflects importance Biden is putting on health care as he prepares to take office in January amid worst pandemic in more than a century. He's launching his transition process this week as virus surges across country. U.S. surpassed 10 million cases Monday.

Biden also focused on health care Monday as he pleed with Americans to put aside ir political differences and wear masks to protect mselves and ir neighbors from virus.

“We could save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for next few months. t Democratic or Republican lives, American lives,” Biden said. “Please, I implore you, wear a mask.”

suit challenging health care law was brought in America's largest conservative state, Texas, and is backed by Trump and top Republicans. It asks Supreme Court to declare law’s mandate to buy health insurance unconstitutional because Congress h previously repealed penalties for ncompliance.

After serving as President Barack Obama's vice president for eight years, Biden has pledged to build on Affordable Care Act while championing a “public option” that would allow more people to opt into government-sponsored health insurance even as millions of ors could stick with ir current, usually employer-based cover.

But such changes could be difficult to enact if Democrats fail to win a majority in Senate. Control of chamber hinges on two ruff races in Georgia that will be decided in January.

Biden, meanwhile, is moving forward with planning a presidential transition even as Trump refuses to concede race and falsely argues it was stolen from him.

president-elect is expected to quickly name a chief of staff and start considering Cabinet appointments, though those likely won't be finalized for weeks.

But he's running into hurdles from General Services ministration, which is tasked with formally recognizing Biden as president-elect. That designation eases cooperation between outgoing and incoming ministrations. ncy’s Trump-appointed ministrator, Emily Murphy, has t started process and has given guidance on when she will.

That lack of clarity is fueling questions about wher Trump will spend as much of his remaining time in office as possible hindering Biden from building out his government. Biden has so far largely igred Trump and inste called for bipartisanship — but he may t be able to keep doing so for much longer.

“This election is over," Biden said during his speech Monday. “It’s time to put aside partisanship, and rhetoric that is designed to demonize one ar.”