WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision upholding the nation's health care law marks an enormous political victory for President Barack Obama in the heat of a re-election campaign, and affirmation as well for the Democrats' decades-long drive to extend coverage to millions of Americans who now go without.

But if the sweeping changes mandated by the law will go forward, so, too the political controversy. Presidential challenger Mitt Romney and Republicans seeking control of Congress will see to that, seizing already on Chief Justice John Roberts' ruling that the law levies a new tax on anyone refusing to purchase coverage.

The decision was rich in irony as well as in history.

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