Supreme Court strikes down anti-prostitution pledge as condition of AIDS funding

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, June 20, 11:32 AM

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday said the government cannot force private health organizations to denounce prostitution as a condition to get taxpayer money to fight AIDS around the world.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, said the anti-prostitution pledge in a 2003 AIDS funding law improperly restricts the groups’ First Amendment rights.

Four organizations that work in Africa, Asia and South America challenged the provision in the law, arguing their work has nothing to do with prostitution.

The Obama administration countered that it is reasonable for the government to give money only to groups that oppose prostitution and sex trafficking because they contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS. It said that if groups were not held to a pledge to oppose prostitution and sex trafficking, they could spend private funds in a way that might undermine the government’s mission.

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Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-strikes-down-anti-prostitution-pledge-as-condition-of-aids-funding/2013/06/20/814c04b0-d9b5-11e2-b418-9dfa095e125d_story.html

[closeupready]

1. 6-2 - good ruling. K&R

[Nye Bevan]

2. John Roberts is actually proving to be a pretty good Justice (nt)

[AlbertCat]

3. John Roberts is actually proving to be a pretty good Justice

Yeah.... that Citizens United thing he threw out there, that wasn't even really part of the case, is pretty good!

[Nye Bevan]

5. I'm with the ACLU in supporting that decision (nt)

[mountain grammy]

7. Really! a couple of sane rulings does not a good justice make

even Scalia/Thomas was right once, I think.

[Nye Bevan]

10. Bear in mind that he saved Obamacare (nt)

[geek tragedy]

4. Check back with us after he guts minority job and voting protections nt

[Nye Bevan]

6. He voted to throw out the Arizona voter ID law (nt)

[dr.strangelove]

8. A lot of us think Roberts is going to surprise us

On the gay rights cases.

While I think he will be with Scalia and co. on affirmative action in Fisher v. Texas and also in Shelby County v. Holder, I think he might surprise people in Hollingsworth v. Perry and in Windsor. They should be decided soon.

[Nye Bevan]

9. This could be the Brown vs Board of Education of our generation.

And Roberts is a very smart guy. I have a feeling that he fully understands what a huge and positive legacy this gives him the opportunity for.