>> reporter: 2012 also marked a milestone in implementation of president obama's health care law. in a 5-4 decision back in june the u.s. supreme court ruled the major crux of obamacare, the individual mandate is indeed constitutional. >> i'm happy. i'm pleased, to see the supreme court put the rule of law ahead of partisanship and ruled that the affordable care act is constitutional. >> reporter: the decision was the result of lawsuits brought by 26 state attorneys general against the federal government who claimed mandated participation was a violation of american's freedom. >> republicans won't let up whatsoever in our determination to repeal this terrible law. >> reporter: there are still several outstanding suits challenging the law, meaning obamacare will still be a hot button issue into 2013. as 2012 winds down, it resembles 2011 with congressional republicans finishing out the year locked in another showdown with the white house over taxes and spending with the average family caught in the middle. in washington, craig