The current threats to our health care are multi-fold. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, has the potential to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and important health care consumer protections. His judicial record leads people to be concerned about a potential demise of the right to safe, legal abortion, and the ACA. He has also demonstrated a disturbing lack of regard for people with disabilities. Kavanaugh’s nomination is receiving cool reception—a CNN poll found only 37% of Americans support his confirmation, while 40% think the Senate should not vote to confirm him. This is reportedly the poorest reception of a Supreme Court nominee in four administrations. A Unite for Justice day of action has been scheduled for August 26, with actions taking place across the country in opposition to Kavanaugh’s nomination. The Senate’s confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin after Labor Day. If Kavanaugh is confirmed, Washington State women will be breathing a sigh of relief that the public approved Initiative 120 back in 1991.

The federal judge for the Texas lawsuit against the ACA is scheduled to hear oral arguments on September 10. You may recall that this case is being opposed by 17 state attorneys general, including Washington’s Bob Ferguson, but not by the Justice Department, which is refusing to defend the ACA against many of the plaintiffs’ claims.