Written by Michael Palomba
Democrats have been “trolled” time and time again. But usually, the trolling is done by Republicans or other opponents. But recently, they trolled themselves, hard.
It all started with a state law passed by California Democrats in 2015. The law’s goal was to ensure pregnant women get a full picture of their options, including abortion. The bill “require[s] a licensed covered facility, as defined, to disseminate a notice to all clients, as specified, stating, among other things, that California has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services, prenatal care, and abortion, for eligible women.”
Essentially, the bill required all pregnancy centers, even those devoted to pro-life causes, to advertise the availability of abortion. Those that did not comply would be hit with civil lawsuits and fines. The bill would, “authorize the Attorney General, city attorney, or county counsel to bring an action to impose a specified civil penalty against covered facilities that fail to comply with these requirements.”
Photo by Victor Panlilio via Flickr
The bill passed along party lines, with Republicans urging that it was a major violation of the First Amendment right to free speech.
Assemblywoman Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) said, “Having this organization required to carry a government message is clearly constitutionally wrong.”
Well, as it turns out, she and other Republicans were correct—and Democrats are paying for it dearly.
After a lengthy court battle, the bill made it all the way to the Supreme Court, where it was ruled unconstitutional in a 5-4 vote. However, it did not end there, the Supreme Court decision also had consequences for Democrats.
Some $2.03 million was spread among five conservative organizations:
- Alliance Defending Freedom of Arizona, $958,535. Its lawyers were among the lead counsel in the NIFLA case. Lately, the alliance has been defending a Trump administration rule that would open the way for federal grants to religious-based groups that refuse to help gay and lesbian couples adopt.
- Liberty Counsel of Florida, $399,999. The legal aid group also is defending Trump’s new adoption rule.
- American Center for Law & Justice of Washington, DC., $247,748. It fashions itself as a conservative version of the American Civil Liberties Union. Its chief counsel, Sekulow, is a chief lawyer for President Trump.
- Pacific Justice Institute of Sacramento, $244,475. Chief counsel Snider proudly notes that the Southern Poverty Law Center calls his organization a “anti-LGBT hate group.” As Snider sees it, he defends religious organizations whose teachings are at odds with gay rights.
- The Scharpen Foundation of Riverside County, $172,613. Founder Scott Scharpen is a board member of Alliance Defending Freedom, and his foundation sued the state over the law. It operates Go Mobile for Life, a traveling center based in a van in Riverside County that offers “limited” ultrasound and “abortion facts — procedures, emotional, mental, spiritual, & physical risks.” Go Mobile for Life says its “unwavering goal” is that women carry their pregnancies to term.
So, in trying to force pregnancy centers to adopt a far-left policy regarding abortion, Democrats actually proved it unconstitutional and had to pay over $2 million to Republican causes.
It’s a great day when Republicans defeat Democrats, it’s an even better day when Republicans can sit back and let Democrats defeat themselves.
