According to the Texas gerrymander, my Representative to Congress is Chip Roy. What a fraud! I used to be in Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s district, and I long ago placed myself on his mailing list. I have recently received a couple of updates from his office regarding his work on Abortion Rights legislation. I have been pondering sending him an email on this and related matters. Tonight, I have decided to speak up. Below is the email that I sent.
Dear Congressman Doggett,
Thank you for keeping me up to date on your work on the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act. I wholeheartedly support your efforts.
Given the basis of the SCOTUS reasoning regarding the reversal of Roe v Wade, I fully expect that other constitutional rights and protections will be struck down sooner or later using the same contorted “logic.” Therefore, I would ask you to consider working with like-minded people in both houses to add additional protections to this and any other law that you can pass regarding the following: Privacy, Human Rights, Rights to Bodily autonomy and Self-Determination, Voting Rights, Right to Marry, LGBTQ Rights and Protections, the ERA, and other rights that may derive from the right of citizens to be “left alone” by their government and by religious zealots.
First, consider putting your legislation beyond the review of the Supreme Court. Include language that says that only the Congress can rescind rights that your legislation enshrines, and that the courts have no authority to limit or overturn that legislation. Doing this puts the courts, especially the SCOTUS, on notice that continued activist, ideological tampering with established law and precedent will lead to the marginalization of the court. It will be relegated to making decisions on matters of little consequence, and nothing more. That is, “If your can’t exercise your authority thoughtfully and with restraint, then you can’t have it.”
Second, please consider adding language to all laws that enshrine the rights of citizens that such laws can only be rescinded by a 2/3 majority in both houses of Congress. This won’t have the force of a constitutional amendment, but it will make laws that codify citizens’ unenumerated rights less vulnerable to the agendas of hostile political majorities in Congress as well as the caprices of wayward courts like our current SCOTUS.
I am always happy to receive your communications, and I am appreciative of your efforts to keep me and the rest of your constituents informed.
Sincerely,
Leslie L. Cortes, MD