Hobby Lobby Won the Battle, But a War Still Rages On
Two years ago the US Supreme Court dealt a huge blow to conservative Americans when it upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). Today the Court handed conservatives a win and stood up for the rights of all Americans to hold their religious beliefs without fear of government infringement.
The case involved three companies, most noticeably Hobby Lobby, and argued that the HHS mandate to provide four specific types of contraception was an infringement on the companies owner’s religious beliefs. In a 5-4 decision the Court held that under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 closely held corporations are persons and therefore the government cannot compel them to abandon their religious beliefs and provide contraceptives when other avenues are available. Essentially this ruling means that corporations that are not publically traded (i.e. a Wal-Mart like company does not qualify) are exempt from the contraception mandate of Obamacare because there are other avenues the government can employ in order to provide this service.
While this decision is a big win for conservatives and religious liberty, it is not a grand slam. There are still hundreds of cases pending over religious infringement and Obamacare, and one major issue the Court did not decide is if the companies do not provide the contraception, who will? According to the Court’s ruling, companies like Hobby Lobby can file a form requesting a “middle man” to provide these services. This means that either the insurance company or the government will be footing the bill for contraception. While this may prove to be a non-issue for some, it remains an open issue for others. If the backlash from liberals on social media today is any indication, this debate is far from over.
Today SCOTUS came down on the side of religious liberty and limited government intervention, but this is not, nor will it always be, the case. The only way to continue to ensure that America stays the land of the free is to be ever vigilant in the political process. We are a little over four months away from another Election Day, and it is more important than ever to be informed and involved. Do not let SCOTUS be the deciding factor in policy making, you may not always like where their gavel falls.
Photo courtesy of The Chicago Tribune.
