Robert's Court Enters War on Women

The Supreme Court has unfortunately done it again. The recent Hobby Lobby decision is another step towards giving corporations the same rights as people. Citizen’s United in 2010 gave corporations the right to free speech and deemed money as an acceptable form of speech. Although the Court may mention how narrow the scope of the Hobby Lobby decision is, don’t be fooled. The Robert’s Court is incrementally, case by case, giving corporations the rights of people. The Court has sided with corporations over the rights of women to accessible and affordable contraception methods. It should be never be okay for bosses to determine what women do with their bodies. Women are, and should be treated, equal to men. One can imagine as more cases come down the pipeline that corporations will inevitably have more and more rights bestowed upon them by the Court while marginalizing women.

The Founding Fathers would have been very unhappy with how the Supreme Court is deciding cases regarding the rights of corporations. The writers of the Constitution were never intent in putting corporations over the rights of people but regrettably the Robert’s Court is. This is precisely why the upcoming midterm elections are so important. The U.S. Senate confirms all federal judges. If women are to have a Court that represents their rights to affordable contraceptive methods we must maintain a Democratic Senate. If the Republicans take over the Senate in November any vacancy that opens up will be highly scrutinized. In addition to holding on to a Senate majority, the 2016 Presidential elections are even more important.

We must make sure that come 2016 we have a President in office that understands women’s issues and fights for them. Let’s keep in mind that Justice Ginsburg is 79. Justices Scalia and Kennedy are both 76. The next President will more than likely be making a few appointments to the Court that could reshape American law for decades to come.

Our government should be a government of, by and for the people not the highest bidder. Elections truly matter and women must make sure that they are voting for the right folks in order to have accessible reproductive health coverage. Corporations can give vast amounts of money to politicians but they can’t vote. Women voters have the power to reverse some of these terrible decisions but it all begins at the ballot box. President Obama won his election due to women overwhelmingly choosing to vote for him. Terry McAuliffe is only Governor in Virginia due to women choosing the candidate on the side of their reproductive and healthcare rights. Women voters have tremendous power, we can only hope they will exercise their power in the 2014 and 2016 elections. Only then will we see a Court that sides with women.

Reprinted from 5th District State Sen. Curt Thompson's (D-Norcross) blog. Thompson represents parts of unincorporated Duluth, Norcross, Tucker, and Lawrenceville. Also, check the Senator out on Facebook and Twitter.