Facts about the Contraception Ruling
A recent ruling from the Obama Administration requires that contraceptive methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration be included at no additional cost in health insurance plans — with a carve-out for religious institutions.
There’s a few things you should know about the manufactured political controversy that’s erupted.
#1 Republican candidates are claiming that the ruling will rob religious organizations of their religious freedom. Not true.
Churches and other houses of worship are not required to offer contraception, but affiliated organizations like colleges and social services agencies are required….because they are not religious organizations.
The Catholic Church’s effort to restrict the contraceptive decisions of their non-church-based employees and students reminds me of the autocratic philosophy that pervaded company towns, that were not uncommon at the end of the 19th century. In these communities, one major business controlled everything, from jobs to housing to food and entertainment. The citizens of these controlled communities lost any ability to exercise individual choice. That’s what the Catholic Church and its conservative allies are trying to create by pushing back on the Obama ruling.
President Obama’s decision was balanced and judicious.
#2 A strong majority of the American public, including Catholics, support the President’s decision. Check out these poll results.
#3 The Republican push back on this issue is all about attacking President Obama. 28 states already have similar provisions requiring contraception, which has never created a conservative backlash. Many thanks to MSNBC host Rachel Maddow…I found this fact on her blog.
Ms. Maddow is also, to my knowledge, the only news anchor who has for months covered the contraception issue, including the proposal by some Republican Presidential candidates to make the availability of contraception a state’s rights issue. Since when is my reproductive freedom a state right and not a personal liberty?
Here’s my take-away: If affiliated organizations have the ability to deny contraception to their employees or students, then those organizations are enforcing religious doctrine and thus denying religious freedom.
EMILY’s List Supports California Candidates
Former California Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, running for California’s 52nd Congressional seat, received good news yesterday. EMILY’s List, the highly respected national women’s organization that raises campaign funds for Democratic, pro-choice women candidates, placed Saldaña “On the List,” which gives her national exposure to raise funds from EMILY’s network of over one million.
Former California state Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny, running for CD 51, and current state Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod, running in the newly created CD 35, are also On the List. Incumbent U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Lois Capps (CD 24) are recommended by EMILY’s List.
Click here to see California candidates supported since EMILY’s List was founded in 1985.
Nationally, EMILY’s List has helped elect 16 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. Senate, 87 to the U.S. House, nine governors, and hundreds of women to state legislatures, constitutional offices, and key local offices.
Let’s end on a light note:
No Girl Push-Ups for These First Ladies
It’s impossible to know who is more adorable — First Lady Michelle Obama or America’s first lady of funny, Ellen DeGeneres.
See why my goal is to do 25 push-ups by the November election….
My favorite line from the video: “I think we should do it together.”
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTAIedFfUBU&feature=youtu.be
