Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation Could Have A Major Impact On Arizonans | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation Could Have A Major Impact On Arizonans

Barrett's confirmation could threaten both Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act so what will this mean for Arizonans?

34
Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation Could Have A Major Impact On Arizonans
By The White House/Shealah Craighead - https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/50397882607/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94569579

All eyes have turned towards Washington D.C. as Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing, undergoes confirmation hearings in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Two topics at the forefront of conversation surrounding Barrett's nomination include Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's health care law.

If confirmed, Barrett's addition would secure a conservative majority alignment on the Supreme Court, thereby putting both the ACA and Roe in jeopardy.

For Arizonans, these decisions could have long-lasting effects on people across the state, ranging from women to those with preexisting health conditions.

The stakes have prompted activists across the nation to call for proceedings to halt until the presidential inauguration on January 21, ensuring that the people have a say in the nominee through this November's presidential election. The Senate's decision to stall President Obama's nominee in 2016 for the same reasons has only added to the divisiveness.

Like the rest of the country, Arizona finds itself divided on whether or not the Senate should vote until after the election.

According to a survey conducted by HighGround Public Affairs, Arizona voters are split with 50% in favor of a Senate confirmation vote in contrast to 47% opposed. The survey results reflect Arizona's partisan divide on this issue.

The divide has been seen in elections across the state, from the Senate race to smaller, local elections including the Maricopa County Attorney election.

Democratic candidate Julie Gunnigle, who attended Notre Dame Law School while Barrett served as a professor there, spoke to Ahwatukee residents on September 28 about her concerns regarding Barrett's confirmation.

For Gunnigle, her primary focus falls on Roe v. Wade, whose overturn she views as an "inevitability".

A case concerning Roe, Food and Drug Administration v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, already sits before the Court, which could put the legality of abortion back into the state's hands.

Arizona's pre-Roe abortion ban could have abortion providers facing a two year minimum in prison and those seeking abortion could face at least one year. Both could face up to five years of imprisonment, however.

Gunnigle feels Roe is under attack because of Barrett's participation in groups and signed statements publicly opposing it.

In Tuesday's Senate hearing, Barrett said she does not consider Roe to be a "super precedent", which she regards as "cases that are so well settled that no political actors and no people seriously push for their overruling".

A survey conducted by Public Policy Polling, however, found that a 73% majority of voters in battleground states, of which Arizona is included, believe that abortion should be legal.

"Most importantly, what it's going to mean is that women will die," Gunnigle said of Roe's possible overturn. "Again and again what we've seen with the criminalization of abortion is that it doesn't end abortions, it ends safe abortions."

Another mandate at risk is the Affordable Care Act.

Barrett's confirmation hearings come a mere month before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in California v. Texas on November 10. The case, which challenges the ACA's constitutionality, has President Trump and several Republican states clamoring for the mandate to be struck down in its entirety.

Tara Plese, the Chief External Affairs Officer for the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers, detailed how the ACA's overturn could affect millions of people across the state, including those with preexisting conditions.

Plese explained how the federal government helps health care plans cover the costs of high-risk populations, something that could be lost if the ACA goes away.

Although the Arizona Senate passed a bill to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to those with preexisting conditions, Plese said it has a major oversight when it comes to cost controls.

"Going forward if the Affordable Care Act goes away, you could be charged just because you have a preexisting condition," Plese said. "It could be so expensive people would decide not to go for health insurance."

Another concern of Plese's is the threat to the ten essential health benefits insurances must cover, especially in regards to women's health care.

Plese highlighted how the ACA gave women access to yearly well-visits, mammograms and maternity care, which had previously required an additional plan. It also guaranteed contraceptive coverage and prevented insurance companies from denying health care access to women, Plese pointed out.

"It really does give women greater control over their own health care," Plese said.

Plese stressed that an ACA overturn could affect more than just those with preexisting conditions and women, however.

Plese said it could have a major economic impact on the state as well.

"If we lose the Affordable Care Act, Arizona could lose $1.7 billion," Plese said.

This economic loss would result from the lack of federal funds into the state's Medicaid program, known as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Plese said over 1 million people are currently in the state's Medicaid program.

Ultimately, Plese believes the overturn of the ACA would be a major loss for Arizonans.

"It's the best attempt that we've had at making a viable health care system for everybody in well over 50 years," Plese said.

Gunnigle and Plese are not alone in their fears for Roe and the ACA.

In a livestream for Planned Parenthood Action on Sunday, Phoenix resident Alejandra Pablos passionately denounced Barrett's confirmation. As an immigrant citizen of the United States and an abortion storyteller, Pablos views Barrett's confirmation as a threat to her life and the lives of all Arizonans.

"We must demand no confirmation until after inauguration," Pablos said. "We are fighting for a world where we all have full autonomy over our own bodies, our own lives, sexuality and reproduction."

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

14799
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2967
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1784
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments