Seriously, They Are Opposed to Affordable Access to Birth Control
Earlier today, President Obama announced some changes to his proposal to require no-cost contraception that accommodated objections by religious groups. Here’s what the policy, which is being finalized today, means:
- Contraception will be available to women at no additional cost beginning August 1, 2012.
- Insurance companies will reach out directly to employees of religious organizations who object to coverage contraception. The contraception will then be provided to the employee at no additional cost.
- Religious organizations who object are not involved in providing or paying for contraception in any way. Since contraception helps save on overall health care spending, it is a benefit that comes at no net cost, meaning that religious organizations are not subsidizing it any way by merely providing health care coverage for their employees.
- Churches and organizations that primarily employ and serve members of their own faith would still be excluded from coverage under the plan.
This final policy is a huge victory. It respects both religious liberty and women’s basic health care needs. It’s been endorsed by everyone from Planned Parenthood to Sister Carol Keehan, the head of the Catholic Health Association.
Since all reasonable objections by religious groups have now been fully accommodated, it’s now clearer than ever that anyone who still opposes this plan really just opposes affordable access to birth control — period. And now that’s just what Congressional Republicans in the House and Senate are vowing to do — take away affordable access to birth control. They already tried to take away the birth control benefit yesterday in the Senate, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) stopped them. We expect House Republicans to try and do the same next week.
Meanwhile, Boehner’s own taxpayer subsidized health care plan already covers birth control. If it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for the American people.
Are you sick of this right-wing war on women?
Sign our petition and tell Congress to leave birth control alone! Click HERE to sign and tell Congress that enough is enough.
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