Marco Rubio joins Democratic senator in attacking birth control rule

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who has emerged as one of the crusaders in the fight against a rule requiring religious institutions to provide contraaceptives in their health care, has joined forces with a Democratic senator to fight the mandate. 

The White House is holding firm on the rule. Catholic bishops, who in recent weeks have asked their parishioners to object to a federal law requiring religious-based institutions, such as Catholic hospitals and universities, to provide contraceptives as part of their health care coverage. A new law taking effect this year requires most private insurers to pay for birth control. Religious groups have been given an extra year to comply.

Rubio joined Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Thursday morning on MSNBC in announcing legislation that would repeal the rule. Republicans, including Rubio, have cast the fight as an "assault on religious liberty." Polls, however, show widespread support for providing contraceptives in health care plans, including among Catholic women.

 

If a religiously-affiliated organization teaches that contraception is wrong -- such as Catholisim does --than the federal government "shouldn't have the power to go in and require to have to pay for it," Rubio said on MSNBC.

"This is not even about contraception for me," Rubio said. "That's what people want to focus on. But this is about whether a religiously-affiliated organization should have to pay for something."

Several other Democratics, mostly Catholic, have also said they'd object to the administration's approach. They include Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.

Comments

[amethystlady]

Keep your filthy hands OFF women's health care - reproductive rights...its NOT YOUR BUSINESS! Democrat OR Republican...BUTT OUT!