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House Democrats mostly sidestepped questions on the Supreme Court ruling that now allows states to ban student-athletes from competing on sports teams or in leagues that correspond with their gender identity rather than their biological sex.
” I think we spend far too much time obsessing over that,” Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., told Digital when asked for his opinion on the ruling. “And what people should be focused on right now is the dysfunction here in Washington.”
” I think the focus should be on this economy and getting us out of this war of choice and bringing down gas prices so that folks do not have to make real decisions about if they’re going to put food on their table or gas in their tank, to take their kids to the hospital or to school,” Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., said.
DEMOCRATS STAY QUIET ON NEXT STEPS AFTER SUPREME COURT TRANSGENDER SPORTS RULING
The Supreme court deliberates over the inclusion of Trans women in women’s sports. (istock)
She continued, “I think that the culture wars that we allow to divide us don’t do anything to feed our kids.”
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision marked a major victory for supporters of laws restricting transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports, upholding state laws challenged by transgender student-athletes who argued the policies violated the Constitution.
But when asked about the landmark ruling, several House Democrats didn’t know about the decision or pivoted to talking about what they deemed as more important issues like the economy and dysfunction in Congress.
“This place is a disaster,” McGovern said. “And, you know, and the incompetence here is… I’ve never seen this before. “
“I think what people should be focused on is that Washington is not working, and it’s really sad.”
WHAT THE SCOTUS TITLE IX RULING COULD MEAN FOR LAWSUITS SEEKING DAMAGES FOR WOMEN IMPACTED BY TRANS ATHLETES
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 31: Ranking member Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., speaks during the House Rules Committee meeting on a resolution denouncing the horrors of socialism, in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Despite the ruling leaving the decision up to the states rather than a nationwide ban, Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., argued the issue should be dealt with at an even lower level — locally.
“Let like the school athletic associations, let parents, let people at the local level decide which sports and which age groups should be co-ed or what the rules should be.”
Like several of his Democratic colleagues, Magaziner quickly shifted the conversation to broader issues he said Congress should prioritize.
NEWSOM’S OFFICE RESPONDS TO SCOTUS RULING ON WOMEN’S SPORTS AS CALIFORNIA FACES ONGOING TRANS ATHLETE WAVE
Washington DC Capitol dome detail with waving American flag, USA (iStock)
“I frankly like don’t think that this is something that politicians in Washington should be involved in,” Magaziner said. “We should be focused on lowering inflation, we should be focused on ending the war, we should be focused on preserving our democracy.”
“Congress should be focused on the big picture things,” he added.
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Rep. Sarah Elfreth, D-Md., was among the few Democrats to offer a direct criticism of the ruling, calling it “unfortunate.”
“Unfortunate for a lot of folks in across this country,” Elfreth said. “Like I said, they didn’t get a lot right today.”
