June Highlights

LWV Logo
Democracy Hangs in the Balance After a Tied Vote on the For the People Act

The long-awaited Senate vote to begin debate on the For the People Act (S1) ended in a 50-50 split, falling short of the requirements to move the legislation forward.

Regarding the vote, LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase Solomon stated, “Today’s vote is hopefully just the beginning for this bill, which will strengthen our democracy and ensure the freedom to vote for all Americans…we call on the Senate to work together to pass the For the People Act and find a solution for the American people.”

The Supreme Court Disappoints Equal Rights Activists

On June 17, the US Supreme Court ruled in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a case centered on the state’s refusal to contract with Catholic Social Services (CSS) due to their unwillingness to place children in foster care with same-sex couples.

The Court ruled that the state’s refusal is unconstitutional because their system of individualized exemptions was inconsistently applied across foster care agencies. The decision will have a devastating impact on the countless children in foster care who might have otherwise been provided with loving homes. That said, it notably does not apply blanket restrictions across the entire country.

The League of Women Voters was proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community as amicus partners in this case. We concur with the words of the LWVUS board president Dr. Deborah Ann Turner, who called on Congress to “pass the Equality Act to enshrine the anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Civil Rights Act.”

…But Preserves the Affordable Care Act

On the same day, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of California v. Texas,  which challenged the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In their ruling, the Court determined to keep the current ACA legislation intact.

The League commends the Court for upholding the ACA and preserving affordable healthcare for millions of Americans.