Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)

A Supreme Court vote Monday signaled which way the court could lean in the healthcare reform law debate. 

By a vote of 7-2, it rejected a constitutional challenge to a law making it a federal crime for a felon to have body armor or bulletproof vests, the Chicago Tribune reported. Court watchers say this vote–while it does not directly relate to healthcare reform–reinforces the Constitution’s commerce clause that gives Congress broad power to pass regulatory laws. Whether or not Congress had the right to pass healthcare reform is a point of dispute between Republicans and Democrats.

In related healthcare reform news, Congress has delayed the vote seeking to repeal healthcare reform in light of the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).

“All legislation currently scheduled to be considered by the House of Representatives next week is being postponed so that we can take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today’s tragedy,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), said in a statement last weekend.