While the Christian owners of Hobby Lobby await their fate in the Supreme Court as to whether or not they will be forced to violate their consciences and provide their employees contraceptive coverage, a new bill in New York may not give religious employers a choice.
Manhattan Democrat Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee (D) introduced S 6578A , or the “Boss Bill,” in March to force employers to provide contraception on the grounds of “discrimination,” giving employers virtually no chance of circumventing one of Obamacare's more controversial mandates. It recently passed a Senate labor committee and is now awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.
Here’s a summary of the "Boss Bill's" specific provisions:
Section 1 amends the labor law by adding a new section 203-e to prohibit an employer from discriminating against an employee on the basis of the individual's or a dependent's reproductive health decision making, including a decision to use or access a particular drug, device or medical service. It also prohibits discrimination based on an employer's personal beliefs about such services.
Krueger says the bill will close a loophole in the state’s anti-discrimination law, even in light of the Hobby Lobby decision:
"Now is the time for New York to make clear that a boss' personal beliefs do not trump a woman's health and access to the health care they need," said Krueger. "The fact that I take a job with somebody who may not share my views about family planning and reproductive health doesn't mean they get to tell me I can't use a certain kind of contraception, I can't access certain kinds of health care or they will fire me. That's completely unacceptable but currently protected under New York state Labor Law."
For a legislator who appears to be adamant against discrimination, Krueger ignores her bill's clear prejudice against evangelical employers. Of course she wouldn't understand that a boss may have a moral objection to providing abortifacients to female employees. Once again, a pro-choice politician is insisting that “women’s rights” should trump everything else.
“In New York, in the 21st century, no boss should be able to tell employees whether they can have access to birth control, or whether they have the right to be pregnant,” continued Sen. Krueger. “This bill to protect women and men's basic rights to make their own reproductive health decisions, free from reprisals from their bosses, should pass quickly in both houses. It would send a deeply disturbing message if it doesn't.”
Notice she tries to claim this about men's rights too. Can someone explain to me how vital it is for men to have access to reproductive coverage?
Some see this legislation as a second chance at the failed Women’s Equality Act, legislation introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo which would have vastly expanded abortion services, allowing abortionists to perform the procedure right up until birth. Now that’s disturbing.
The ever-angry Krueger responded to the defeat of the bill, which also included equal pay legislation:
"Women are 52 percent of the state, we aren't supposed to be 80 percent of a human being."
If only she felt the same about unborn babies.
As mentioned, the “Boss Bill” is on its way to a vote in the New York Senate. Let’s hope it doesn’t get past the first reading.