McConnell: Contraceptive issue "will not go away"

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called for President Obama to "back down" on his decision over contraception, implying that he will face ongoing challenges from Congress and the courts if he doesn't.

On CBS News' "Face the Nation," McConnell said the president's plan regarding insurance coverage of birth control is violating the First Amendment.

"They don't have the authority under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to tell someone in this country or some organization in this country what their religious beliefs are," McConnell told "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer

"This issue will not go away until the administration simply backs down," McConnell said.

McConnell said he expects the Senate to take up the issue as soon as possible to overturn the contraceptive rule, although his party's minority status would hamper offering up legislation.

McConnell said Republicans are also filing an amicus brief - a legal brief in support of a position - to the Supreme Court Monday challenging the president's health care law.

As for the president's contraceptive rule that mandates insurance companies provide contraception and sterilization coverage free of charge, even for employees of religious-affiliated institutions, McConnell said it violates freedom of religion.

"This is what happens when the government tries to take over health care and tries to interfere with your religious beliefs," McConnell told Schieffer. "This is about the free exercise of religion," McConnell said.

[AmericanLady100]

Am I hearing this correctly? Has McConnell come out and said that no insurance company should be covering contraception, at all? We have moved beyond the Catholic debate then. In fact, we have moved beyond the abortion debate and to what the most extreme social conservatives in this country have always wanted. The next step is to outlaw contraception completely. McConnell is one statement away from that. He needs to pull this back right away. This argument is getting out of the GOP's control very quickly.

[nancy_naive]

Man is an animal of free will, until it looks as though he might not do what the church tells him to do.

[erpicferl]

if a woman does not want to have a baby, she should be able to abort it. what part of that do you not understand old man?

[rightontarget]

As for the president's contraceptive rule that mandates insurance companies provide contraception and sterilization coverage free of charge, even for employees of religious-affiliated institutions, McConnell said it violates freedom of religion.
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Oh Bull Sh*t!!!!! What it does is PREVENT anyone from eliminating a person's choice. Since the revision a "religious-affiliated institution" will not have to advocate it, pay for it or even refer women to it. BUT the insurance carriers still have to OFFER THE CHOICE! I am a Christian BUT I absolutely get sick to my stomach when I see how those "fanatics" in their religion try to eliminate choices and impose THEIR beliefs on others. It's all about "control" in the name of religion. (Sounds a bit like the fanatical Islamists who want to "eliminate the infadel" to me. All in the name of a "righteous" cause.) How lame. We are put on this earth to love and support each other NOT RUN EVERYONE ELSE'S LIFE. according to our own beliefs. That does NOT make us "righteous". It only makes us "controlling"!!

[ProgressNow]

by Mortarman291SG February 13, 2012 10:04 AM EST
For employers...all there is for them is the bottom line.
----

Spoken like a true neo-con... Why do you hate 99% of the American People Mort????

[1988JAck]

Funny, Mitch, it's already gone away, 70% of Americans are with Obama on this and 90% of Catholic women.
But, hey, keep playing to the wacko base.

[ProgressNow]

They're the only ones still sending him checks...

[obwan222]

"Mortarman291SG: The EMPLOYER was being forced to pay for something the EMPLOYER finds immoral."

The EMPLOYEE is entitled to the same health care coverage she would get if she worked for a bowling alley or a department store or any other employer in the country. All the other EMPLOYEES get coverage and there is no exception for EMPLOYERS in the Constitution no matter their beliefs.

EMPLOYERS can believe anything they want - they can believe that blacks shouldn't be hired no matter how qualified they are, they can believe women shouldn't be paid as much as men for the same work, they can believe anything they want - but the law requires them to treat EMPLOYEES equally not in accordance with their beliefs.

EMPLOYERS are not allowed to impose their beliefs on their EMPLOYEES. (In fact over 95% of Catholic "believers" say that they have used birth control at some point in their life.)

[nancy_naive]

Then, let the EMPLOYER persuade.

You cannot legislate morality.

[nancy_naive]

Yep, Mandated Employer furnished healthcare insurance,... as orignally designed by Nixon.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

Let me see if I got this, Obama wanted females to have the option for the cost of contraception to be covered under their health coverage. All the person had to do is say "No, I don't want the contraception". How is that violating the person's religion?

[Parrots10]

Mortar, KEYWORD is 'WAS' - the whole thing is already changed and explained severally - time for the many dumb dumb Repugs to realise that women will have access to contraception, irregardless of their faith - cuz if they truly are good Catholics or Acidics, they'll just simply say NO to getting or using contraception.

[bearfoot33]

mortarman does that same "employer" really have the right to decide whether he supports a government program or not? and if so, should he/she have the right to support or not an undeclared war begun by u s WITHOUT congressional approval and if so, why is this great Xtian loving country so enamored with killing? admit it, we're WAR profiteers, that's you willard, and you gingrinch, you two(and many others)are at the bottom of the barrel. it would be better if you stayed there. mortarman, is your name from building up(i.e. grouting) or from blowing things up?

[nancy_naive]

McConnell: Contraceptive issue "will not go away"

God, I hope not. Because this is one of the few times when pushing the wrecked car back up the mountain, it DOES crash in exactly the same place.

[raymailhot]

Contraception as part of Healthcare?

What is the disease?

[nancy_naive]

you. Your mother had it.

[bearfoot33]

OVERPOPULATION dummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!