MSNBC "The Rachel Maddow Show" - Transcript: Hobby Lobby Ruling
Interview
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Joining us now for the interview is Senator Barbara Boxer of California. She`s one of the co-sponsors of this new legislation.
Senator Boxer, thanks very much for being with us. It`s nice to have you here.
BOXER: Thank you for inviting me.
MADDOW: So, the legislature and the judiciary are obviously co-equal branches. You guys can`t overrule the Supreme Court directly. But what would this legislation do to try to reverse the effect of the Hobby Lobby decision?
BOXER: Well, we actually listened to the chief justice who said Congress can fix this. Just like we fixed the Lilly Ledbetter case, we can fix this.
And we simply say, not withstanding any law, including this -- the law they cite, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which I voted form, despite that law, a boss cannot deny you any procedure, any medical treatment that is placed into federal law that you`re entitled to. No boss can tell you, you can`t have birth control or for that matter, a vaccine for your child or a blood transfusion for your husband.
So, it`s very important, because this is a slippery slope.
MADDOW: Based on everything that we have seen from Republicans in Congress over the last couple of years, I can`t imagine that you have very high hopes as far as this bill becoming law this year. I can`t imagine Speaker Boehner putting this up for a vote if it does pass the Senate. I wonder what will happen if the Republicans decide to filibuster this legislation, which I expect they would.
What do you think are the reasonable chances of this becoming law?
BOXER: First of all, I`m ever the optimist. That`s what I do what I do for so many years, and I`ve gotten some things done. I want to be clear on that.
So, here`s the thing -- we`re not talking about anything radical here. This, I believe last I checked, was the 21st century. We`re talking about access to birth control, and as we know, I think you know, 1.5 million American women take birth control pills for conditions other than birth control. They take it for painful, difficult medical conditions. And another 5 million take it in part for those conditions.
So, we`re talking about millions of women, and we`re talking about 99 percent of sexually active women taking birth control. So, here`s why I am optimistic. I believe, and I haven`t seen any polls that people will support us overwhelmingly. This is a free country. We have elections.
You saw Mark Udall and his wonderful ad making this point, and I think it puts the Republicans in a bad situation, and frankly, I don`t care. We have to step up to the plate, whether it`s an election year or not an election year, and we have to protect the women of this country, our families, and it`s essential that we take the step.
MADDOW: Senator Barbara Boxer of California, thank you for helping us understand this tonight. I imagine that on that political point, simply taking a vote on this in the Senate and making everybody get on the record is going to be a very politically potent thing.
Thank you for your time tonight, Senator. Thank you. I appreciate it.
BOXER: OK.
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