Barbara Boxer says Supreme Court is discriminating against women because it has not banned Viagra

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) argued Tuesday that the Supreme Court has discriminated against women because its Hobby Lobby ruling allowed some companies not to cover some forms of birth control, but has issued no similar ruling allowing companies not to cover Viagra.

"I do not know of any employer that is dropping coverage for Viagra," Boxer said on the Senate floor. "I don't. I've asked around, I've been on TV, I've invited folks to let me know. Oh no, Viagra's fine. Birth control is not fine.

"And just put the pieces together yourself," she said, before explicitly stating her theory. "I think that this decision discriminates against women."

Boxer's argument appears to be an attempt to equate Viagra with four contraception methods that Hobby Lobby said could lead to abortion, and thus violated the religious beliefs of the family that owns the company.

In its decision, the Court essentially said the government cannot force closely held companies to offer all methods of contraception that the Obama administration listed in a regulation. As a result of the decision, Hobby Lobby is expected to continue to cover 16 of the 20 contraceptive methods listed by the government.

Since the Hobby Lobby ruling, Democrats have tried to cast the decision as one that unfairly limits women's health options, and one that was decided by five male judges. Like other Democrats, Boxer blamed the decision on five Supreme Court judges that were nominated by Republican presidents.

On Wednesday, Democrats are expected to hold a procedural vote on a Democratic bill aimed at preventing all companies from limiting contraceptive choices in the health plans they offer. But that vote will require the support of 60 senators, something that is not expected to happen given GOP opposition to the bill.

Among other things, the Democratic proposal would allow for criminal penalties, including jail time, against people for now providing all contraceptive methods covered in the Obama administration's regulation.