McConnell and Bishops Say Fight Regarding Birth Control Mandate Not Over Yet
- Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:26pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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(The Blaze/AP) Conservatives said Sunday the flap surrounding President Barack Obama’s birth control mandate was far from over, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell saying he’ll push to overturn the requirement because it was another example of government meddling.
While a senior White House official shrugged off such remarks, declaring the issue resolved and new legislation unlikely, the heated rhetoric from Republicans suggested the GOP would try to keep the debate alive in an election year to rally conservatives and seize upon voter frustration with big government.
“It’s riddled with constitutional problems,” McConnell said of Obama’s broader health-care plan. “And this is what happens when the government tries to take over health care and tries to interfere with your religious beliefs.”
Last week, Obama backed down on a mandate that religious-affiliated employers such as Catholic hospitals and colleges cover birth control in their health insurance plans. In a tweak of the rule, those employees would be offered free coverage directly from their health insurer. But employers would not provide or pay for it.
The White House says the plan won’t drive up costs because birth control, similar to other preventative care measures, is less expensive than pregnancy. But opponents say that unless drug makers stop charging for contraception, the cost is likely to get passed on to employers regardless.
While some Catholic groups applauded the move, including the Catholic Health Association, the nation’s Catholic bishops said it continued the attack religious freedoms – a theme quickly picked up by Republicans trying to wrest control of the White House this November.
“There’s no compromise here,” said GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, a Catholic and favorite among religious conservatives. “They are forcing religious organizations, either directly or indirectly, to pay for something that they find is a deeply, morally, you know, wrong thing. And this is not what the government should be doing.”
In several televised interviews, White House chief of staff Jacob Lew defended the latest plan as the best possible compromise to provide women access to contraceptives and respect the religious freedoms of employers. Churches had always been exempt under Obama’s original plan, although religious-affiliated organizations were not.
“We didn’t expect to get universal support of the bishops or all Catholics,” he said. “I think that what we have here is a policy that reflects bringing together two very important principles in a way that’s true to the American tradition.”
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., has called Obama’s revised plan an “accounting gimmick.” He introduced legislation last week that would exempt any organization with moral objections from providing birth control. McConnell said he expects such a bill would be vetoed by the president but that he still wanted a vote “as soon as possible.”
House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan said there were enough votes in the Republican-controlled House to pass similar legislation.
“If this is what the president’s willing to do in a tough election year, imagine what he will do in implementing the rest of his health care law after an election,” Ryan, R-Wis., told ABC News “This Week.”
Lew shrugged off questions about Senate legislation, predicting that they would not “come to pass” and that the president planned to move ahead with implementing the current plan.
“We’re going to go ahead and implement it,” Lew said. “And women are going to have access (to contraception) and institutions like Catholic universities and Catholic hospitals will not be in the position that they had feared. I think that’s a good resolution.”
Santorum and Lew spoke on NBC’s “Meet the Press.“ McConnell and Lew spoke on CBS ”Face the Nation.” Lew also spoke on Fox News Sunday, CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC News “This Week.”
McConnell on CBS Sunday:
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Comments (64)
KathleenElsie
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:24pmPelosi told us that they had to pass the bill so we (stupid people) could find out what was in it. How many people have waited till after all the papers were signed to find out what something will cost them?
Report Post »fammus1
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:19pmWhat kind of fool thinks “free stuff” doesn’t cost anything?
Report Post »fammus1
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:14pmWhy doesn.t anyone bring up the point that contraception is being labled as preventive care? Preventing birth like it is a disease ? Wouldn’t a womans right to healthcare also include giving birth?
Report Post »SPOT_OF_TEA
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:48pmWhy are the republicans fighting these stupid provisions in Obamacare when they supposedly want the whole thing scrapped?By focusing on this 1 thing they are giving credibility for the entire bill arent they?
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 11:26pmObama care is a house of cards and if you kick out one of the foundations, the whole thing no longer can stand.
Report Post »MCLOVINIT
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:23pmPolitical Prayer:
Report Post »“It is January 20th, 2013.
Rick Santorum is being sworn in as the new President of the United States.
I give thanks to you Almighty God, for your blessings!
Thank you, Lord. Thy will be done, not mine.”
I see it. I believe it. I feel the joy with all my heart.
azmomof6
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 11:12pmAmen!
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:14pm“They are forcing religious organizations, either directly or indirectly, to pay for something that they find is a deeply, morally, you know, wrong thing.”
Report Post »…and something they CONTRACTUALLY AGREED TO PROVIDE when they hired their employee. If an employer offers a co-pay for health insurance as part of the deal which they use to attract and hire workers, they don’t have the right to LATER, after they’ve HIRED SOMEONE, renege on that agreement.
Stoic one
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:29pmI think that you will find that these organizations Exclude contraception in their healthcare plans. I do not ‘know’; this is a deduction of mine. Do you work for a religious affiliated enterprise?
obamacare will demand this, when it is shoved up our collective sphincters; I do not think ANY non governmental enterprise relishes providing this monstrosity to their employees.
Report Post »smokeyridgerunner
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:13pmWhy don’t they just excommunicate the people that do not want to follow the churches rules? Either your Catholics or not.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:26pmLike Pelosi?
NoBama 2012
Report Post »barber2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:31pmBingo. But can you imagine the Uproar from the Dominant American media ?? heck they are still having a field day with trashing the entire Catholic Church over the pedophilia scandal . The New York Times runs “news” articles and/or columns on this topic on any given slow news day ! American liberals can NOT tolerate religious rules and authority figures . They will call the Pope “Hitler” if he excommunicates anyone. And the Dominant International media will declare War on the Vatican to go along with their current War on Capitalism ! Coming attractions ??
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:33pmJoe “hair plugs” Biden ?
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:08pm“(The Blaze/AP) Conservatives said Sunday the flap surrounding President Barack Obama’s birth control mandate was far from over, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell saying he’ll push to overturn the requirement because it was another example of government meddling.”
Report Post »…isn’t GOVERNMENT, writ large, an example of government meddling?
barber2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:54pmI do not believe a word this president or his administration or the current Democrat Party has to say. They are 99% manipulation and lies. They have joined the political thought of the international Left : anti capitalism to the core. Their minions, the Occupiers, have announced February 29 for a big demonstration and calling for a national strike for May 1 which is the international Communist Workers holiday. Doesn’t get more obvious than this folks. Hope our police and National Guard are prepared.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:59pmI agree completely.
Report Post »I just hope the police and National Guard are still on “our” side.
TheObamanation
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:07pmAnd don’t worry occupytards … any damage you cause will be paid for … by the insurance companies … wait for it … wait for it … FOR FREE !!!!! … This is what democracy looks like …
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:59pmare the the police and National Guard going forsake their children, mothers, fathers & brothers for Obama? I don’t think so
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:24pmbetter question to ask is how many illegals and otms are in the military…
Report Post »govt had some fun recruiting practices past 20 years.
Quagaar Warrior
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:52pm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Report Post »Liberty can NEVER compromise with tyranny or dictatorship otherwise it’s not liberty at all!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:51pmThey have fed the beast everything he wanted…
They have let him crap on the Constitution, i.e., not bothered with his eligibility,
his BC, no Budget, method of going to war, etc.
NOW the beast wants MORE and NOW they want to use the Constitution to stop him.
Talk about being screwed and screwed up!
Report Post »sndrman
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:45pmmcconnell a conservative and O’Kenyan is die hard (r)….mcconnell is lft of most liberals…….our leaders(r) are the weakest spineless weasels who hide under desks until it’s time for them to get re-elected then they speak Conservative-ism.once elected they’re back to hiding under the desk……………
Report Post »sndrman
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:45pmjust the sight of mcconnell makes me wretch
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:43pmIn a tweak of the rule, those employees would be offered free coverage directly from their health insurer. But employers would not provide or pay for it … Free Insurance !!!!! Yahoo !!!!! … Carefull … sometimes the free stuff ends up costing ya.
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:51pmAccording to Debbie Wasserman Shultz offering free contraceptives saves health insurers money because it is cheaper than carrying a pregnancy to term.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:04pmWilma:
Report Post »So is having death squads, which will keep eldercare expenses down, and will ease the social security problem.
If we all die sooner (or at least us non-party members), it makes things better for the New Order.
Bill Burns
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:08pmPlus a co-pay; something the WH leaves out.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:48pmGASPAR: Bingo ! So we see our deficit busting Democrats now drag out the “ fiscal savings ” to drum up support for birth control ! Guess those euthanasia procedures will be next since they will SAVE so much money by avoiding all of those expensive costs in nursing homes ! Think another German Big Daddy Government had similar ideas ! And we know how well all of that turned out…..( so far Obama has only targeted the “rich/ bankers/ CEOs .” Wonder who’s next ?
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:38pmI am for a Woman’s Right to Choice (GOD gave humans FreeWill)… but I am not for Government Support nor Intervention… so I stand with the Catholics!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:45pmYou want to give a woman the right to murder? I hope she starts with you.
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:52pmI am also for a “Woman’s Right To Choose” as long as she accepts the consequences of MURDER!
Report Post »GoodCook
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:37pmOne amendment down nine to go. He’ll go after the second next ( Remember that NRA the election is coming you know ). And States rights “forgetta bout it”! Congress get a spine! This guy is angling for dictator and chief not jsut demander and theif which he is already, YOUR rights are on the line and surfdom only a stones throw away. The government is near to telling you if you can be born ( abortion ) and when you will die ( euthinasis ). If freedom means nothing to you vote for this guy again. This is an election issue for in his next term he will have no bounds as to how he will dictate and America will be the great failed experiment.
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:30pm“Accounting gimmick” — LOL — Yes, EVERYTHING they do is a “gimmick”…..lies, lies and more lies, scams, evil schemes and the Repubs.in power just “talk” with no action to amounts to anything. The list of the unconstitutional things this admin. has done and plans on continuing to do is mind boggling and you don’t hear action from the ones that are supposed to uphold the Constitution, represnent and protect “we the people” from tyrants like Obama. Even the “Fast and Furious” fiasco – I question Issa now. I guess they are just “wishin and hopin” everything will all go away if we win everything in 2012. Uh….that is if we are still holding the elections then.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:36pmAgree. Totally.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:30pmThis is about the Constitution. If this gets put into place then the separartion between religion and govt is over. The Catholic church will not cave on this one and I’m just dying to see how this ends. Gonna arrest the Pope?
Everyday it’s something new with this administration.
NoBama 2012
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:09pmThe catholic bishops were all for obamacare at first and , although they were warned, they never saw this attempt on religious freedom coming. Now…they have fight to get rid of these mandates. The idea that obama switched the onnus of free contraceptive and free abortions to the insurance companies…it is still there. Are the bishops that dense? It is still being paid for by everyone‘s money and that includes the Catholic’s money. It is all semantics. Nothing has changed.
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:05pmUntil the People Pardon and pacify these Criminal sobs…
Nothing will change…
voting has been rigged for generations…it is just done badly today.
Report Post »lookatthehine
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:20pmEndowed By Their Creator With Certain Unalienable Rights?
Report Post »http://dcbigmouth.com/?p=1
Razorhunters
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:36pmnever been big on religion…too many questions.
i do believe in the Sovereign citizen and the Free Man.
govts are evil, all thru so called known history , it has been the powers that be that flux everything up.
keep govts small and easily managed…none of this bs yrs of court action.
people need to be able to remove criminal sobs instantly.
windchimes made out of the traitors.
if people only knew 1/10 of what these sick sobs have been doing to your families…
Report Post »would be slaughter in the streets.
StCharles777
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:03pmObama’s ways and laws have contradicted the Bible and the Constitution more times than we could count! Bible believing CHRISTians must stand up against this evil and pray, declare the TRUTH and get him out of office!
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:53pmHec no it isn’t going to be over till dumbo leaves office and (here it comes) until SARAH PALIN moves into the White house .Yea i said it, she is still the one i wanna see go against odumbler and chief because she would tear him a new one and the powers that be know it, but oh well we can just look at odumba$$ for the rest of our lives considering the choices we are given by those who think they know what’s best for us….
Report Post »We are Americans
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:16pmThen maybe Sarah should have run for the
Report Post »presidency. Where is the bishops outrage against
the systematic raping of child for the last 40 years.
Probaly 2000 years. Take away birth control. That’s fine.
Then the church should help families who
have no resources to take care of theses children.
I guess their cool withbthe government taking care
of that. Also, keep closing catholic schools.
After all Jesus message wasn’t about spreading the
word. It was about the financial resources of
the Roman Catholic church. Not. Hypocrites
and rapists. I’m sorry. I said it.
Baddoggy
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:50pmObama has painted himself into a corner on this one. There is no way he can escape on a Constitutional basis and no matter what he does, will end up being the undoing of ALL of Obamacare. No way out Mr Marxist…Unless of course you get the liberal court to uphold it by looking at other Constitutions besides ours…Then the revolution will begin. This is a ground zero event…No matter what Glenn says.
There are too many that are ready to stand and fight. Count on it. This is Obamas undoing.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:35pmThink his hidden Marxist atheism finally caught up with him.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:50pmA plea to McConnell, Boehner, and the rest of the spine-challenged republican leadership:
Report Post »DON”T LET THIS GO AWAY!!!
No last minute caving…stand up straight and fight the dictator.
This could take him down.
barber2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:17pmAgree. Mr Executive Order, Mr. Czar needs to be confronted. Think the Democrat Character Assassination Squad and their cohorts in the Dominant media have frightened the Republicans into not challenging the Obama Democrats. Now we have to suffer from the budget busting economics and the anarchy of their buddies, the Communist Occupiers. Thanks American public education. Thanks Marxist professors. You have brainwashed American youth – the older ones are now in our government and the younger ones are in our Occupy Movements.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:46pmBarry was gonna step in Sh-t one of these days and he did on this one
Report Post »This issue will stink all the way to election time.
Gonzo
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 7:37amYou already have the MSM raving about what an intelligent compromise he so graciously made for the church. I really hope people are smart enough and engaged enough to see through his propaganda wing’s attempt to brush this whole thing aside. I still find it hard to believe that they have already convinced a good portion of America the birth control is a “right”. Health care, housing, higher education and now birth control are all now our “right”. That is total B.S.!
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:45pmThe only Catholic groups that supporting the so-called accommodation to the mandate are extreme liberal groups that do NOT represent mainstream Catholics. of course the administration would never point that out.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:54pmI don’t see this as a Catholic issue only. It’s a freedom issue and we non-Catholics need to get behind it also.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:56pmYhea & if they get there way I will get rid of the Catholic faith 4 good, after all the empires they loose this war ? WTH
Report Post »barber2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:08pmThe social justice virus has infected many American Catholics. Father Michael Pfleger is a prime example. Think our Obama Democrats fall into this category. To them, Big Daddy government is God.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:29pmI also see that no 1 read this bill. WTH
Report Post »