Washington, D.C.
Jcwire
In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that family owned businesses may impose their religious beliefs on workers under their control, exempt from countervailing requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
“The plaintiffs have failed to show financial burdens of this law, since it would be cheaper to pay a fine or renege on all health insurance coverage. However, we find the true burden to be placed upon the sensibilities of the owners,” explained Justice Samuel Alito, Jr. “As plaintiffs are both individuals and corporate entities, they have more say than the singular sensibilities of the workers they do not wish to cover.”
“Moreover, the plaintiffs do not object to all forms of contraception,” he continued. “That good old standard of the condom would be covered — though submitted receipts might raise a few chuckles in the reimbursement department. And women still have the covered option of sterilization.”
A federal judge has estimated that one-third of working Americans are not offered contraceptive coverage. That proportion is likely to increase with this ruling. Others objected to contraceptive choice being determined by employers rather than a woman and her doctor.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) hailed the ruling, saying “Our nation was founded on the principle of freedom, and with this decision, America will continue to serve as a safe haven for those looking to exercise religious liberty, not only for themselves but for others they control by economic proxy.”
In a supporting filing, the Guttmacher Institute, a non-partisan policy and research group, objected to the effects of the decision, citing increased risk of pregnancy. For example, the IUD – one of the denied methods of contraception by this ruling – “is 45 time more effective than oral contraceptives and 90 times more effective than male condoms in preventing pregnancy based on typical use.” Cost and availability constraints without coverage were also cited as endangering the health of women and babies and increasing the incidence of abortion.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), said, “The President’s Health Care law remains an unworkable mess and a drag on our economy. We must repeal it and enact better solutions.” When asked about the specifics of such a solution, he responded, “We must lower Americans’ health care costs and defeat the Administration’s Big Government objectives. No more questions.”
The Court’s three women were joined in dissent by Justice Steven Breyer.