High court strikes down Texas anti-abortion law

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Women celebrated in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building after a 5-3 ruling on June 27 reaffirmed Roe v. Wade and struck down two provisions of a Texas state law that restricts women’s access to abortion.

The 2013 law that the court nullified required all abortions to take place in ambulatory surgical cen­ ters or mini hospitals, instead of regular clinics. Many state legislatures have passed laws similar to the Tex­ as law, which are designed to regulate abortion clinics out of existence.

These so-called TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abor­ tion Providers) laws violate a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion. The Texas law HB 2 requires clin­ ics to invest in expensive building upgrades to meet the more stringent standards of ambulatory surgical centers. It also mandates that doctors obtain admit­ ting privileges at nearby hospitals.

National Advocates For Pregnant Women (NAPW)

and the NYU School of Law Reproductive Justice Clin­ ic filed an amicus brief on behalf of 14 organizations saying that the Texas law would prevent some wom­ • Trump Close to White House—The highest profile current real estate proj­ ect of the presumptive Republican presi­ dential nominee is the conversion of the historic Washington DC Old Post Office, within sight of the President’s residence, in to a luxury hotel. Trump does not own the new Trump International Hotel—he is leasing the property from the Federal government. That makes the renovation work subject to prevailing wage rules— essentially union scale—mandated by the Davis-Bacon Act.

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The Labor Department says they have an “open investigation” of the charge. But since the complaints involve a subcontractor, it’s unlikely the former reality TV star’s company will be liable for any damages.

• Craps In Atlantic City--UNITE HERE was able to negotiate tentative agree­ ments at four of the five remaining ca­ sinos around the Boardwalk but a thou­ sand union members are on strike at the Trump Taj Mahal. The presumptive GOP presidential candidate no longer has any stake in the property but is well compen­ sated for use of his name. No body would pay to use the name of the current own­ er—the notorious corporate raider Carl Icahn—but he is said to be on Trump’s short list for the next Treasury Secretary. The issues are basically everything in the contract. The strikers, singing and chant­ ing, greet would-be customers 24-7. en from having an abortion; force others to have an abortion outside of safe medical settings; and make those who do so potential targets for arrest and pros­ ecution. The Court’s decision strikes down that law.

This decision came in the context of increased num­ bers of women demanding their right to abortion. As this law was being debated, women from across Texas marched and sat in at the state capitol to de­ mand their rights. Women came together who had fought for the right to abortion in the streets that had brought about the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, with younger women who had never before imagined a time when abortion was illegal and a safe abortion was not an option.

Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the majority, made clear that these laws are unconstitutional: “Un­ necessary health regulations that have the purpose or effect of presenting a substantial obstacle to a woman seeking an abortion impose an undue burden on the right to an abortion.”

As to the admitting privileges provision, Breyer said there was “nothing” in the record of the case to show that the requirement advanced the interest of pro­ cial inspection.”

It was interesting to note that a few hours after the decision, Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren were appearing together at a large rally in Cincinnati. It was billed as a major speech in which the two women were campaigning together for the first time. Both speeches were telecast in full on MSNBC, and after it was over, veteran journalist Andrea Mitchell seemed shocked that not one word had been uttered by either woman about the Supreme Court’s abortion decision. Later, Mitchell reported that she was told that the Clinton campaign didn’t think Cincinnati would nec­ essarily be that receptive to the issue.

There was another victory for women at the Su­ preme Court today. This was a win for two million home-care workers. Two and a half years ago, the Labor Department finalized a rule requiring that home-care workers be paid at least the federal mini­ mum wage for all hours worked as well as overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. It was stopped by a lawsuit that was filed by the In­ ternational Franchise Association and the home-care industry.

The Supreme Court refused to hear the case, so the Labor Department rule will go into effect. The ongo­ ing union organizing of home-care workers in both the public and private sector and their demand for respect and dignity, along with their alliance with fast-food workers in the Fight For 15, has given them the visibility and power to influence the U.S. Supreme Court. Congratulations! n leave state service every month.