Ginsburg: This ‘Congress Is Not Equipped Really To Do Anything’

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks to the Northern Virginia Technology Council, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, in Reston, Va. She took part in what event organizers describe as a "fireside chat" with former U.... Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks to the Northern Virginia Technology Council, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, in Reston, Va. She took part in what event organizers describe as a "fireside chat" with former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson. Olson served as solicitor general from 2001 to 2004 under President George W. Bush and is still a frequent advocate before the court. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) MORE LESS
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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday lamented that the current Congress is dysfunctional.

During an interview with MSNBC set to air Monday night, Ginsburg discussed The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which Congress passed in 2009 after the Supreme Court ruled that individuals could not sue their employers for discrimination over a decision made 180 days beforehand.

Ginsburg said that at the time, Congress was able to act where the Supreme Court did not. But she said that’s not possible anymore.

“The current Congress is not equipped really to do anything,” she said. “The kind of result that we got in the Ledbetter case is not easily achieved today. Someday, we will go back to having the kind of legislature that we should, where members, whatever party they belong to, want to make the thing work and cooperate with each other to see that that will happen.”

The Supreme Court justice also discussed Roe v. Wade, which she believes will not be overturned. She said that while some states’ have limited access to abortion for low income women, she doesn’t think abortion will be outlawed entirely ever again.

“We will never see a day when women of means are not able to get a safe abortion in this country,” Ginsburg said.

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  1. “Someday, we will go back to having the kind of legislature that we should, where members, whatever party they belong to, want to make the thing work and cooperate with each other to see that that will happen.”

    Sadly, that won’t happen until a Republican is elected president again. The R party will never intentionally allow any thing to happen so long as they aren’t in complete control.

  2. The word the Notorious RBG is looking for is ‘incompetent.’

  3. This is the legislature America voted for. The only conclusion is that the electorate is undereducated or insane.

    I choose to hope for the former which, with patience, can be remedied.

  4. I think it’s both, though I blame that on my permanently pessimistic nature.

  5. Women of means.

    There’s the rub. I think the honorable justice is trying to make a point.

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