Senate to hold formal vote on reversing contraception rule

By: Lucy Madison
Topics: Campaign 2012

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., talks to reporters on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012.

(Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

After initially opposing the idea, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid agreed Tuesday to allow a vote in the Senate on a measure that would reverse the White House's rule mandating free contraceptive care for workers at religiously-affiliated institutions.

"I have agreed to a vote on contraception," Reid told reporters late Tuesday as he blasted Republicans for pushing to attach "extraneous" provisions to an unrelated transportation bill.

The amendment addressing contraception, sponsored by Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, would exempt employers from providing health benefits that conflicted with their "beliefs or moral convictions."

President Obama announced Friday that the government will not force religiously-affiliated institutions such as schools, charities and hospitals to directly provide birth control coverage as part of their employees' health care coverage, in the wake of an uproar from religious leaders over the administration's original language surrounding the regulation.

Blunt has blasted the Obama administration for requiring contraceptive coverage for religiously-affiliated employers, and says that even the White House's recent tweak to the rule infringes on faith-based institutions' right to moral objection.

"What has to be protected here is the faith-based rights of conscience. That's what this debate is about," Blunt said Monday.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, a women's health advocate and leading opponent of Blunt's amendment, welcomed the decision to allow a vote, which allows some conservative Democrats to voice their opposition to the White House. The amendment is expected to be rejected.

"Let them bring it to the floor," the California Democrat told MSNBC's Al Sharpton Tuesday night. "We are ready to vote. This is so extreme."

Boxer argued that the language of the amendment is so broad that it would enable employers to exploit the use of moral objection to deny their employees insurance.

"Let's use an example. Let's say somebody believes that medicine doesn't cure anybody of a disease but prayer does," she said. "And then they decide no medicine. No medicine. And under the Blunt amendment, they could do just that."

About 61 percent of Americans support federally-mandated contraception coverage for religiously-affiliated employers; 31 percent oppose such coverage, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll released Tuesday.

Lucy Madison
Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

27 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 27 Comments


by papaw1935 February 21, 2012 4:11 PM EST: God, oh pardon me, Sen. Reid has given permission for the senate to vote on the question. I know he thinks he is god but he needs to understand he is a mear mortal.; Reply to this comment


by moretruthnow February 15, 2012 8:14 PM EST: This proves that the GOP is becoming more and more narrow-minded and mean spirited. They have decided to adopt an agenda against women having birth control which is a war against women. When these idiots decide to attack birth control while also attacking abortions they expose their horrible actions against decreasing abortions.; Reply to this comment


by conner1949 February 15, 2012 4:34 PM EST: Why do all discussions have to result in insulting someone for their views? The issue is simple. Who has more rights - American citizens or American churches? I always thought government was supposed to be "BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE" not by special interest groups for special interest groups. Requiring that a certain type of medical coverage be offered is not mandating that it be used. That point is missed in all this discussion. As a prior commentor put it, Why should my healthcare coverage be shaped by my employers whims and beliefs? Lastly, all you who commented on "welfare people" need to realize that with more birth control arguably there will be less "welfare people".; Reply to this comment


by DocD--2008 February 15, 2012 4:13 PM EST: Attach another amendment stating all Republican voters are hereby ordered to take contraceptives. If found guilty of having another child while being Republican or changing after giving birth, it will result in the death penalty.; Reply to this comment

by soap-suds February 15, 2012 2:41 PM EST

So, is this ammendment going to outlaw war, the death penalty, and all of the other things the Catholics are against in our society? Or is this just a Republican political fairy tale to divert attention from the Republican "?candidates?"

Reply to this comment


by roblearns February 15, 2012 3:40 PM EST: Boxer forgets that employers are not required to offer health insurance at all - under current law.

She's suggesting the amendment allows it - frankly it's always been allowed.

Now there are some provisions that will penalize employers with more than 50 employees - but it stops far short of requiring health insurance - for any reason, on religious grounds or on random grounds - the law simply doesn't require employers to have health insurance.

One thing to keep in mind folks - is that Doctors, Nurses, Hospital administrators already have access to contraceptions and the poor - can get them for free from Planned Parenthood.

This rule is not now, nor has it even been about healthcare or contraceptives - because everyone in question already has the contraceptions they want. Either they can easily afford to pay for them - or they are free from Planned Parenthood.

What people don't actually have access too - like the ability to fully pay for dental care - many employers pay no more than $1000 per year - even when you need $5000 worth of dental surgery.

Or many employers ban certain procedures like bariatric surgery - and this is done for cost reasons - and its completely allowed!

It's just ashame that Catholics aren't against bariatric surgery - then maybe we'd have a wedge issue, so that it could be addressed by the president.


by PourpaixPourpaix February 15, 2012 2:30 PM EST: The idiot Catholic Church severely oppresses my religious freedom by making medical decisions for me and my family based on their spiritual beliefs and not on medicine. Why would anybody be so stupid as to take spiritual advice for the single most abusive organization the world has known? 75 Million + people over the years. I'm very happy that Obama has stood up against these Church morons and is trying to protect my religious freedom. If the Republicans want to back the Church and throw my religious freedoms away, then it's time to recognize them as anti-American out to undermine the nation's principles.; Reply to this comment


by reality_sanity February 15, 2012 2:23 PM EST: by WhttevrrWorks February 15, 2012 11:57 AM EST
Two questions:
1.) Why are Republicans waging war against women?
2.) Why do women vote for Republicans?

---
by aghast101 February 15, 2012 12:29 PM EST
Why are you twisting this.

---

Twisting what? Republicans have voted UNANIMOUSLY in committee NOT TO RENEW the Violence Against Women Act (credited with reducing domestic violence) that was approved by significant bi-partisan majorities in 2000 and 2005.; Reply to this comment

by ace92040 February 15, 2012 2:11 PM EST

by dzaffina February 15, 2012 12:42 PM EST
a better question, other than the corporate wealthy, why would anyone vote republican?

Maybe they work for a living and want to keep some of their paycheck?
Maybe they think it's wrong to use welfare as a career choice?
Maybe they can add and subtract. A skill that eludes virtually all Democrats?

Just sayin......

Reply to this comment


by moretruthnow February 15, 2012 8:20 PM EST: We liberals have the common sense and the integrity to work, to care, to be concerned, to contribute to the needy and to know that greed and corruption is what is wrong with the GOP. The republican party always supporting the wealthiest and most corrupt while attacking the middle class and working poor. Nothing that the republicans support is for the welfare of all Americans.


by obwan222 February 15, 2012 1:00 PM EST: Since the Catholic Church is anti-war and non-violent does that mean that in time of war Catholics should be exempt from the draft?

The problem the Catholic Church has is that the position of the Church is NOT the same as their "believers". 98% of Catholic women admit to using birth control at some point in their life.

I remember when a Democratic Catholic ran for President and the conservatives tried to scare everyone with the specter of the Pope dictating American policy.

Now the conservatives think that the Pope SHOULD dictate American policy.; Reply to this comment

by dzaffina February 15, 2012 12:00 PM EST

if blunt got his way, i see the Greedy One Percent that employ people, converting to any religion that believes in prayer to heal rather than medical science. no medical insurance for their employees, a win win for the GOP Greedy One Percent.

Reply to this comment


by superdem1 February 15, 2012 12:49 PM EST: It's called Christian Science, an oxymoron if ever there was one.


by moretruthnow February 15, 2012 8:29 PM EST: Lets not forget all the right wing billionaires who do nothing but buy republican politicians for their purposes. Soros is someone who is much admired for his concern for democracy and for the good in America. He is not a corrupt wicked deceiver like Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch of Fox News who have a republican agenda and what you hear is republican propaganda. So you are not getting the truth, just the anti-truth agenda. It is a joke that their favorite to vilify is Soros who is a very decent wealthy benefactor to Democrats.