TODAY   |  March 27, 2012

High court hears more health care arguments

President Obama’s landmark health care reform law is under the microscope during a second day of arguments at the Supreme Court. NBC’s Pete Williams reports.

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>>> president obama 's landmark health care reform comes under the microscope at the supreme court today. nbc's justice correspondent pete williams is there with the latest. pete, good morning.

>> natalie, good morning. the constitution gives congress the power to regulate commerce. today's question is, does that mean it can require everyone to buy health insurance . 26 states and a business group say the answer is no. they say if you don't have insurance, you're not in commerce, you can't be forced to buy it. one judge who ruled against the health care law said if congress can do that, it could require everyone to buy broccoli to become healthier. but the obama administration says the law doesn't regulate the insurance industry , it regulates the entire health care system and everyone is involved in that. the government says people without insurance, when they show up at the emergency room , the cost of their care is transferred to people who do have insurance, and it says that is definitely commerce. whatever the supreme court decides, we'll find out in late june. natalie?

>> all right, pete williams at the supreme court this morning.