US healthcare on a knife edge 邊緣

Barack Obama's healthcare reforms, passed almost exactly two years ago, remain one of the most contentious(爭議) aspects(方面) of his presidency. The bill was passed in the teeth of vociferous opposition(大聲疾呼反對) from the Republican Party. Polls suggest(民意調查) that public opinion(民意) remains sharply divided(對立).

A key provision(條款, 規定) that individual citizens should either buy health insurance or pay a penalty(罰款) - the so-called individual mandate(任務, 命令) - has already been the subject of numerous(眾多) legal challenges across the country. It was almost inevitable(必然) that the issue would ultimately(最終) reach the highest court in the land.

The nine justices(法官) who make up the Supreme Court(最高法院), five of them regarded(視為) as conservatives(保守派), will spend a highly unusual(不尋常) three days hearing oral(口頭) arguments. They'll issue their findings in the summer, just as this year's presidential election campaign swings into full gear(加快步伐). The impact(影響) on the campaign of a ruling on such an important political issue could be enormous.(巨大)

this report is from bbc learning english

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/03/120327_witn_obama_healthcare.shtml