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Rep. Lowey Criticizes Supreme Court's Lobby Ruling

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) condemned the Supreme Court's ruling on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby as a shocking step backward for women's health.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey criticized the Supreme Court ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby

Congresswoman Nita Lowey criticized the Supreme Court ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Monday that corporations can refuse to offer contraception coverage  to their employees based upon religious beliefs.

Lowey said the Supreme Court ruling was unacceptable. "Employers will be legally allowed to prevent a female employee from making her own health decisions.

"Millions of American women will be at risk of having to pay out of pocket for basic contraception, rather than have it covered by health insurance," she said.

Lowey said employers should not be allowed to impose their religious views on employees. "This country was founded on the principle that no citizen can force their religious beliefs on another. This decision flies in the face of this sacred tenet," she said.

Popularly known as "Hobby Lobby," the court case arose when the owners of two companies objected on religious grounds to the Affordable Care Act's requirement that employees' health insurance plans include contraception coverage.

David and Barbara Green and their three children are a Southern Baptist family that owns the Hobby Lobby craft stores chain

Norman Hahn and his family are Mennonites who own the Conestoga Wood Specialties cabinet-making business in Pennsylvania.

They argued that being forced to cover contraceptives they object to on religious grounds violates their religious liberty.

NARAL Pro-Choice America said the Supreme Court ruling was a direct attack on women and our fundamental rights.

"This ruling goes out of its way to declare that discrimination against women isn't discrimination," Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America said. "Allowing bosses this much control over the health-care decisions of their employees is a slippery slope with no end."

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