NEW: Planned Parenthood, MA Senators Blast SCOTUS Contraception Ruling

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Monday, June 30, 2014

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren (D) and Ed Markey (D) spoke out against a Supreme Court decision Monday that will change an Obamacare stipulation that would require insurance companies to offer free/low-cost contraception to women.

“Today, the Supreme Court gave bosses the right to discriminate against women and deny their employees access to birth control coverage. This is a deeply disappointing and troubling ruling that will prevent some women, especially those working low-wage jobs and struggling to make ends meet, from getting birth control," said Marty Walz, President and CEO of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.

Planned Parenthood Outraged

Planned Parenthood condemned the decision in a written statement, arguing that the consequences of the ruling will be detrimental to women's health.

“This ruling does not strike down the Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit. Today, more than 500,000 Massachusetts women are eligible for birth control with no co-pay thanks to this benefit, and many of them will not be affected by this ruling. But for those who are affected, this ruling will have real consequences.

“For the second time in less than a week, the Supreme Court has ruled against women’s health. By striking down the buffer zone law last Thursday, the Justices favored the rights of protesters to harass women all the way up to the door of their doctor’s office above the rights of those women to safely access health care. Today, the Court has ruled that an employer’s personal beliefs should determine what health care a woman can access. It’s appalling that in 2014 we must fight to protect access to basic health care for women.”

Senator Warren Disgusted by Decision

Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeted her disdain for the Court's decision, calling it unbelievable.

Can't believe we live in a world where we'd even consider letting big corps deny women access to basic care based on vague moral objections.

— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) June 30, 2014

Statement from Senator Markey

“Today, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that is damaging to women’s health, Constitutional rights, and our entire democracy. The Court’s ruling now empowers corporations to deny women access to contraception merely because such access is contrary to the bosses’ own religious views. Together with the McCullen decision, this Court has done more in one week to restrict access to women’s reproductive health than at any time since before the passage of Roe v. Wade more than four decades ago.

“Nothing in its opinion limits the reach to only closely-held corporations or to only certain forms of contraception. The Court has opened the door to every corporation in America challenging any law or regulation on the grounds that it violates the corporation’s religious beliefs. From vaccinations to mental health coverage, from anti-discrimination laws to environmental rules, corporations are now free to claim that critical, life-saving protections violate their religious beliefs.  

“From Citizens United to Hobby Lobby, Supreme Court majorities continue to extend our basic Constitutional rights – the inalienable rights held by individuals – to corporations.  Corporations are not people, period. We need a Constitutional amendment that would restore the original meaning of our Constitution – that the rights enumerated belong to individuals, not to corporations.  A resolution introduced by Wyoming Senator Tester states clearly that the Constitution and the rights protected by the Constitution are held only by natural persons, and I strongly support its adoption.”

Statement from Representative Jim McGovern

Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern (D) released a statement outlining 2 prime reasons he disagrees with the ruling.

"First, it jeopardizes women’s access to health care. Putting CEO’s in charge of an employee’s health care options is a terrible precedent. Second, the decision continues the Court’s noxious support of the doctrine of “corporate constitutional rights,” which extends Constitutional rights originally intended for individuals to corporations, which are artificial constructs under the law. I believe the best way to reverse the corporate personhood movement is with a Constitutional amendment," McGovern said.

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