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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2016)
March 16, 2016 Page 7 O PINION Your Carpet Best Cleaning Choice Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services Minimum Service CHG. $45.00 A small distance/travel charge may be applied CARPET CLEANING 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 Each Area Pre-Spray Traffic Areas (Includes: 1 small Hallway) 1 Cleaning Area (only) $40.00 Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area (Hallway Extra) ‘Refuse and Obstruct’ Leave Women in Limbo The country deserves better m artha b urk Senators, constitutional scholars may tell you, must “ad- vise and consent” on the pres- ident’s Supreme Court nomi- nees. But apparently the official GOP policy is to “refuse and obstruct.” They’ve vowed not even to give President Obama’s nominees a vote. These Republicans claim that leaving the Supreme Court un- derstaffed is no big deal. Well, it’s certainly a big deal for women. Pending cases on abor- tion, birth control, education, and public employee unions are all sitting before a divided court. The scariest case is Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole. It’s a challenge to a Texas law that would close all but about 10 abortion clinics in the state — down from more than 40 — by requiring them to essentially become mini-hospitals. They’d have to employ only doctors with admitting privileges at by nearby hospitals, a regulation almost unheard of for safe and common procedures like abor- tion. Since an appeals court up- held the requirements, a 4-4 deadlock on the Supreme Court would give Texas the green light to enforce them. And it would almost certainly encour- age other states to enact similar laws. On the birth control front, the court will consider Zubik v. Burwell. A successor to the Hobby Lobby case, it’s an ar- gument over whether religious- ly affiliated institutions have to observe the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employ- er-provided health plans cover birth control. These groups are allowed to avoid the requirement by filling out a form, in which case the government will arrange with their insurer to cover their em- ployees. A few of these groups are claiming that still makes them complicit in sinful con- duct. A 4-4 tie at the Supreme Court would be a mixed bag, since most — but not all — appeals court decisions have upheld the accommodation as not burden- some to religious practice. Meanwhile, established labor law is on the line in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, where the court will consider whether public employees who choose not to join unions can still be required to pay fees for collective bargaining activities. A decision against the unions could mortally wound them. According to the National Women’s Law Center, women are the majority of the public sector workforce, and the wage gap with their male counter- parts is smaller for public union women than non-union wom- en. The lower court favored the unions, so a tie would stave off a major blow to their viability. But that’s still a lot to risk. Women are now also the majority of college students, and women of color could be greatly affected by a decision in Fisher v. University of Texas. In that case, the court will decide whether the school’s race con- scious admissions program vi- olates the Constitution’s equal protection principles. Justice Elena Kagan has re- cused herself. So if the Senate leaves Scalia’s seat unfilled, the case will be decided by seven justices — which means there can be no tie. Three judges — John Roberts, Clarence Thom- as, and Samuel Alito — oppose affirmative action, and a fourth, Anthony Kennedy, has previ- ously expressed doubts about the University of Texas policy. So what’s the score? In four cases affecting wom- en the most, two could go in women’s favor with tie votes. A third tie vote would go against women, and a 4-3 conservative majority would hurt them in the final case as well. However you score it, Senate Republicans are leaving women in limbo until a new justice is chosen and new cases can be brought. That could take years. Women — and the country — deserve better. Martha Burk is the director of the Corporate Accountability Project for the National Coun- cil of Women’s Organizations. Stairs (12-16 stairs - With Other Services) : $25.00 Area/Oriental Rugs: $25.00 Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool) : $40.00 Minimum Heavily Soiled Area: Additional $10.00 each area (Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying) UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Sofa: $69.00 Loveseat: $49.00 Sectional: $109 - $139 Chair or Recliner: $25 - $49 Throw Pillows (With Other Services) : $5.00 ADDITIONAL SERVICES • Area & Oriental Rug Cleaning • Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning • Deodorizing & Pet Odor Treatment • Spot & Stain Removal Service • Scotchguard Protection • Minor Water Damage Services SEE CURRENT FLYER FOR ADDITIONAL PRICES & SERVICES Call for Appointment (503) 281-3949
