Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement Friday in response to recent decisions handed down by the Supreme Court to dismantle affirmative action, roll back LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination protections, and overturn the Biden-Harris Administration’s student debt relief program:
“The Supreme Court decisions released this week are unacceptable and indefensible. The Court’s right-wing majority has rolled back rights and protections for people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women, students, and future generations.
“We won't have the wool pulled over our eyes: the truth of the matter is that yesterday this Court banned affirmative action under the guise of equal protection, and today they legalized discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. That logic does not add up. These decisions are a disgrace.
After Affirmative Action Ruling, Vermont Colleges Say They're Committed to Diversity
Seven Days
Supreme Court says 1st Amendment entitles web designer to refuse same-sex wedding work
NPR
The Supreme Court rejects Biden's plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loan debt
“These ideas are unpopular and would fail on any ballot and in our Congress. But the far-right has spent decades advancing unrepresentative judges to enshrine their extremist beliefs at the highest levels of our judicial system. It is fundamentally antidemocratic and insulting to the values this country was founded upon.
“We must always strive for a more perfect union, where individual rights are expanded, not restricted. The Court’s recent decisions directly counter that intention. So many young people in America will now grow up with fewer rights, protections, and opportunities than their parents.
“I will keep fighting for legislation to protect the rights of all Americans and provide much-needed checks and balances on the Supreme Court, including stronger ethical standards for Justices. We must also continue the Judiciary Committee’s investigation into exclusive access for special interests pushing a political agenda before the Court, and we should follow the facts wherever they lead. Congress must act to rein in a Court that has become the most powerful branch of our government.
“We cannot allow the Supreme Court to undo the progress generations of Americans fought to achieve.”
Sanders Statement on Supreme Court Overturning Student Debt Cancellation
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement Friday after the right-wing majority of the US Supreme Court moved to block President Biden’s action to cancel student debt for 40 million Americans:
Today’s 6-3 Supreme Court decision is a devastating blow for tens of millions of low-income and working class Americans who were hoping for relief from the severe financial stress they face due to a mountain of student debt.
Thirteen years ago, in the disastrous Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court ruled that billionaires can legally buy elections. Today, the Supreme Court has made it clear that they will continue doing everything possible to protect the big money interests against the needs of struggling working families. This right wing ideology is consistent with their recent decisions: denying women the right to control their own bodies, ending affirmative action, attacking LGBT rights and limiting the government’s ability to address climate change.
Justice Kagan is absolutely correct when she wrote in her dissenting opinion that “this case should have been open-and-shut” in favor of the Biden Administration, the “Court’s first overreach in this case is deciding it at all,” and that the Supreme Court should “stay away from making this Nation’s policy about subjects like student-loan relief.”
In my view, if right-wing Supreme Court justices want to make public policy they should quit the Supreme Court and run for political office. Frankly, I do not think their extremist views will gain much traction with the average American voter.
Today, I am urging the Biden Administration to implement a Plan B immediately to cancel student debt for tens of millions of Americans who are struggling to pay the rent, put food on the table, and pay for the basic necessities of life.
Despite this legally unsound Supreme Court decision, the President has the clear authority under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to cancel student debt. He must use this authority immediately.
If Republicans could provide trillions of dollars in tax breaks to the top one percent and profitable corporations, if they could cancel hundreds of billions in loans for wealthy business owners during the pandemic when Trump was President and if they could vote to spend $886 billion on the Pentagon, please don’t tell me that we cannot afford to cancel student debt for working families.
The American people understand that we cannot continue to crush our young generation with a mountain of debt for doing the right thing – getting a college education.
As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, I will do everything I can to make sure that the more than 40 million Americans who are drowning in student debt get the relief that was promised to them as soon as possible.
Lastly, the time is long overdue for the Supreme Court to do what every other branch of the judiciary does. They must establish a code of ethical standards so that justices cannot secretly accept lavish financial gifts from billionaire patrons.
Treasurer Mike Pieciak’s Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Limiting LGBTQ+ Protections
Today's Supreme Court decision denying LGBTQ+ Americans equal access to businesses & services sets a dangerous precedent for discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and all historically marginalized Americans.
This determination only heightens the distrust so many Americans feel for the nation’s highest court.
We must continue to organize, make our voices heard at the ballot box, and push forward on the road toward justice until all Americans can live their lives without fear of being their true selves, regardless of who they love, where they were born, or the color of their skin.
Vermont Racial Justice Alliance Denounces Supreme Court's Attack on Equal Protection and Urges Vigilance in the Pursuit of Justice
The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, an unwavering advocate for securing sustainable power, agency, and security for American Descendants of Slavery while embracing their history and preserving their culture, strongly condemns the recent decision by the US Supreme Court to end affirmative action in the college admissions process. This decision not only undermines the original intent of the 14th Amendment but also perpetuates the tumultuous history of its implementation, its misuse for other intents, and its weaponization against the cause of racial justice.
The 14th Amendment was intended to rectify the deep-rooted legacy of slavery and discrimination faced by African Americans in this country. Its original purpose was to ensure equal protection under the law, regardless of race or ethnicity. However, the implementation of the 14th Amendment has been marked by a history of resistance and rejection, undermining its intended impact. Instead of serving as a powerful tool for racial justice, it has been distorted and manipulated to advance agendas contrary to its original purpose.
The Supreme Court's decision to terminate affirmative action not only disregards the persistent racial disparities in education but also threatens the progress made in achieving racial justice and equity across all sectors of society. Affirmative action was a vital policy tool aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and leveling the playing field for marginalized communities. Its elimination perpetuates systemic inequality and denies equal opportunities for those historically disenfranchised.
The threats to racial justice and equity extend far beyond the realm of education. The decision undermines efforts to address disparities in employment, housing, healthcare, and criminal justice systems. By dismantling affirmative action, the Supreme Court has dealt a severe blow to the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equity, exacerbating the deep-rooted wounds inflicted by slavery and its lasting legacy.
In response to this assault on equality, the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance advocates for concrete policy measures to correct the damage caused by centuries of oppression. We firmly believe that Vermont is well positioned to lead the charge for change. We call for a constitutional amendment within the state that explicitly protects equal protection under the law for all residents, regardless of their race or ethnicity. This amendment would provide a firm foundation for advancing racial justice and dismantling systemic racism within Vermont.
In the interim, we encourage the enactment of state laws that provide enhanced equal protection, addressing the multifaceted dimensions of racial inequality. Such laws should tackle disparities in education, employment, criminal justice, and other areas of public life, ensuring equitable opportunities and dismantling systemic barriers.
We are currently witnessing a troubling iteration of white backlash, where the progress towards racial justice is met with resistance. In this critical moment, we must recommit ourselves to the aspirational values of truth and justice upon which our nation was founded. It is our collective responsibility to stand together and speak truth to power, challenging the systems that perpetuate inequality and fighting for justice like never before.
The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance remains steadfast in our mission to secure sustainable power, ensure agency, and provide security for American Descendants of Slavery while embracing their history and preserving their culture. We call upon all stakeholders, including community members, organizations, and policymakers, to join us in the fight for racial justice and equity.
The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance is dedicated to securing sustainable power, ensuring agency, and providing security for American Descendants of Slavery while embracing our history and preserving our culture.
