The Rethuglican-majority Supreme Court today ruled that an expanded number of employers can deny birth control under Affordable Care Act health care plans they offer to their female employees:
"The ruling is a victory for the administration's plan to greatly expand the kinds of employers who can cite religious or moral objections in declining to include contraceptives in their health care plans.The 7 - 2 ruling, with only Justices Bader and Sotomayor dissenting (!), is seen by women's rights advocates as a set back for reproductive rights:
Up to 126,000 women nationwide would lose birth control coverage under President Donald Trump's plan, the government estimated. Planned Parenthood said nearly nine in 10 women seek contraceptive care of some kind during their lifetimes. (our emphasis [snip]
"In dissent, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said the court in the past has struck a balance in religious freedom cases, so that the beliefs of some do not overwhelm the rights of others.The Court also announced that tomorrow will be the last day of their session, meaning that the tax and financial cases involving demagogue and con man Donald "Impeached Forever" Trump will be decided.
'Today for the first time, the court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree' and 'leaves women workers to fend for themselves' in seeking contraceptive services, they said.
Women’s groups condemned the ruling. The National Women’s Law Center said more than 61 million women get birth control coverage through Obamacare.
'The Supreme Court’s decision will leave their ability to receive this critical coverage at the whim of their employers and universities," the group said. "This decision will disproportionately harm low-wage workers, people of color, LGBTQ people, and others who already face barriers to care.'” (our emphasis)
