The U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Barack Obama’s milestone health care reform law on June 28, ruling in a 5-4 vote that an individual mandate to obtain health insurance or else pay a financial penalty is constitutional. The court ruled that such a penalty is equivalent to a tax that is permitted by the Constitution.

Not surprisingly, reactions to the ruling from local Congressional delegates were divided along party lines, with Democrats expressing elation and Republicans expressing disappointment. Republicans, including presidential candidate Mitt Romney, vowed to press ahead with attempts to repeal the law.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said in a statement that the Affordable Care Act is “already helping thousands of people in New Hampshire and it’s going to help thousands more” when it’s fully implemented. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) said the health care law helps young people stay on their parents’ health plans and prevents insurance companies from canceling people’s coverage when they get sick.

“The court did the right thing by ruling in favor of consumers instead of siding with the big insurance companies,” Pingree said.

But Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) called the health care bill a “bloated monstrosity” and said it imposes a new tax people cannot afford during troubled economic times. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) shared similar sentiments, saying Obama and Congressional Democrats overreached their authority by enacting the law.

Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) said he respects the court’s decision but is “not pleased” about it. He said he would meet with health care professionals and colleagues about ways to amend the law as needed.

“Just because a law has been deemed constitutional by the Supreme Court doesn’t mean it is good policy,” Guinta said.

Former Democratic Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter of Rochester, who is seeking a rematch with Guinta in November, praised the ruling. “Millions of our citizens will now be guaranteed access to health care,” she said.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said the health plan imposes a “coercive tax on the American people” and represents an “unprecedented federal overreach into individuals’ personal lives.” She said she would fight to repeal the law.

Gov. John Lynch said New Hampshire has been preparing to implement the Affordable Care Act and will continue to do so in coming months. He said the law will help New Hampshire citizens and small businesses afford health care.