The Supreme Court of the United States has been in the news a lot lately. Recently they ruled warrantless cell phone searches at the time of arrest were unconstitutional. Now they have come to a decision that corporations are able to opt out of providing birth control for women as long as it is done so under religious objection. It is a decision that is sure to anger many, as the issue has been hotly contested for quite some time.
In a 5-4 decision, the justices decided that for-profit business are allowed to hold religious views under federal law. Under Obamacare birth control was intended to be free under business health care policies. Now, if the company in question cites religious reasons, the government must figure out another way of providing the contraception free of charge.
Signed into law in 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012, Chief Justice Roberts cast the swing vote that saved the health care law as Obama ran for reelection. Now it is Roberts swing vote once again that decided the final decision in this most recent ruling.
The court’s opinion was very specific, stating that the ruling only applies to corporations in in which there is practically no difference between the business and its owners, such as the Hobby Lobby chain craft store who were the original challengers of the provision.
Justice Alito stated, as reported by the Associated Press, “Our decision should not be understood to hold that an insurance-coverage mandate must necessarily fall if it conflicts with an employer’s religious beliefs.” He went on to suggest that the Obama administration themselves could simply pay for contraception in the cases where businesses validly claimed religious objection.
The ruling will come as welcome news to some fifty businesses who have objected to the governments forced mandate to cover contraception. Some business objected to birth control that might kick in after the fertilization of the egg. Some just objected outright. Now they will not be held accountable for any of it. Women employed at those corporations will have to seemingly pay for their birth control out of pocket. And that might be a price that some of those women just simply can’t afford.
Photo: via flickr @Nicholas Eckhart
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