Now he'll decide if your employer can deny your birth control.
The Supreme Court has
decided to take up a challenge to the contraception coverage mandate in the Affordable Care Act. At stake in the case is the further definition of the rights of a corporation as a person, specifically, could it claim a religious conscience that could be "substantially burdened by government action" under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
One of the cases was filed by arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby Stores Inc and Mardel, a chain of Christian bookstores. Both are owned and operated by David and Barbara Green and their children, who are evangelical Christians. The administration of President Barack Obama sought the high court's review in that case after losing before a federal appeals court.
The other case was brought by a Mennonite family that owns a company in Pennsylvania, Conestoga Wood Specialties. The company, which lost in federal appeals court, is owned and operated by Norman and Elizabeth Hahn and their three sons. [...]
The cases are not a direct challenge to the mandate itself. The question is whether closely held companies owned by individuals who object to the provision on religious grounds can be exempted from the requirement.
Now that the Supreme Court has determined that corporations have the same free speech rights as people, it will determine if corporations also have religious consciences, and can impose those beliefs on employees' health care options.
Citizens United was the
cornerstone to the decision in favor of Hobby Lobby by the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. The Court said it had applied "the First Amendment logic of Citizens United" in ruling for the corporation.
9:46 AM PT: The White House issued this statement (excerpt):
The health care law puts women and families in control of their health care by covering vital preventive care, like cancer screenings and birth control, free of charge. Earlier this year, the Obama Administration asked the Supreme Court to consider a legal challenge to the health care law’s requirement that for-profit corporations include birth control coverage in insurance available to their employees. We believe this requirement is lawful and essential to women’s health and are confident the Supreme Court will agree.