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I hope you saw my latest weekly column.



ROGER WICKER: The Court Reins in Biden and Promotes American Values
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In a series of rulings last month, the Supreme Court strengthened
Constitutional protections on important American values, including religious
liberty, the rule of law, and equality. These decisions reinforced important
principles like separation of powers, personal responsibility, and individual
conscience. They reversed disturbing left-leaning trends and restored key
components of our Founders’ vision.


Strengthening Freedom of Speech and Religion


In one of the most-watched cases of the term, the Court decided that business
owners could not be forced to create messages that violate their religious
beliefs. Six of the nine justices sided with the owner of 303 Creative, a
designer who could not in good faith build a website for a same-sex wedding.
The Court got it right on religious liberty and freedom of speech. As Justice
Gorsuch wrote for the majority, “The First Amendment prohibits [the government]
from forcing a website designer to create expressive designs speaking messages
with which the designer disagrees.” In other words: All Americans should be
free to pursue their careers without sacrificing conscience.


Blocking Biden's Overreach


A second case dealt with President Biden’s unfair and expensive student loan
forgiveness scheme. The Court recognized that the plan, which would have cost
the taxpayers over $400 billon, had no legal footing.

If the president had prevailed, he would have transferred the financial burden
from student loan borrowers, who willingly took out loans, to the general
public, including many lower-paid workers who never had the opportunity to
attend college. The Court rightly ruled that President Biden simply did not
have the authority to do this. Our Constitution gives Congress, not the
Executive, the power of the purse. The separation of powers is a central
principle in our republic, and I am relieved to see it reinforced. The result
also promotes personal responsibility by holding people to their obligations.


Merit, Not Race, Matters Most


Perhaps the most divisive case of the term dealt with the use of affirmative
action in college admissions. In a 6-3 decision, the Court barred colleges from
using race in their evaluation of student applications. Chief Justice Roberts
authored the majority’s opinion, saying every “student must be treated based on
his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race.” The Court
thus moved us closer to a colorblind society that prioritizes individual
achievement, not ethnic group membership.


Continuing the Work


These cases signal three steps in the right direction for the Court. They
follow last year’s major decisions on religious liberty and the sanctity of
life. Such safeguards are essential, especially as liberal activists continue
their attack on American values.

During the term, I signed legal briefs on behalf of the website designer and
against President Biden’s executive overreach. Now that those issues have been
decided, conservatives should seize the opportunities the Court is making
possible. In my work as the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services
Committee, I am advancing legislation like the Merit Act. That bill would
require Pentagon leadership to focus on the skills – not the race – of those
seeking military promotions. In this and other legislation, Republicans should
continue building on victories achieved at the Supreme Court.


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Thank you for your support,



Senator Roger Wicker

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