Getty Images
For much of 2012, congressional Republicans have pushed back aggressively against the preventive care measures in the Affordable Care Act, driven entirely by the right's opposition to contraception access. In the Senate, we saw the odious Blunt Amendment reach the floor, and in the House, GOP lawmakers vowed to block implementation of the provision.
At least, that was the case a few months ago. With the Obama administration's rule set to take effect this week, Republicans' interest in the issue has faded. GOP officials are still opposed to the birth-control measures of the ACA, but unlike in the Spring, there's a limit as to how far Republican leaders are prepared to go with this.
There is, however, a parallel track involving the judiciary. While lawmakers on Capitol Hill have all but given up on blocking access to contraception, fearing a public backlash, opponents of the policy are pushing forward in the courts, and late on Friday, they even won a round -- Irin Carmon reported that a federal judge issued an injunction exempting the Catholic owners of a Colorado company from the contraception requirement.
It was the first legal victory for conservative opponents of the Obama administration's policy, but as Sarah Kliff noted, it's a limited win, at least for now.
It's not yet, however, exactly a victory for the contraceptive mandate's opponents: The injunction is specific to that one company, and it holds only until the judge can reach a verdict on the case's merits. Still, it could mark the start of a long period of litigation involving one of the health-care law's most polarizing provisions.
Hercules v. Sebelius is a case brought by Hercules Industries, a Colorado-based air-conditioning company. The four siblings who own the business say they oppose contraceptives -- such medications are not included in their current health coverage plan -- and "seek to run Hercules in a manner that reflects their sincerely-held religious beliefs." [...]
Religious institutions that primarily serve individuals of their own faith got a one-year reprieve. Hercules, as an air-conditioning company, did not fall into that category.
The judge in this case sided with the plaintiffs, saying the contraception coverage may very well impose a "substantial burden" on Hercules Industries' owners ability to practice their religion. Of course, by this reasoning, private business owners, citing "sincerely-held religious beliefs," would also be able to block STD screenings, prenatal care, mental health coverage, drug treatment, and immunizations, all due to faith-based objections.
The preventive care protections kick in on Wednesday, Aug. 1.
Leave a Comment:
Republicans are going to kill their chances with independents and moderate voters by simply going along for the ride on the Tea Party's extreme agenda in Congress. Access to birth control and insurance coverage for women's health are not controversial issues. There is no "debate" over contraception among ordinary Americans. they simply support it and are disgusted by the GOP's efforts to legislate a culture war on the country. There will be a mounting backlash among moderate Republicans against the extreme right-wing ideology that has vaulted birth control to the top of the GOP's agenda. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Why is it always men? Are there any women that own companies that are against contraception? If the men had their way, they would give rapists viagra because it's medical and force the victims to have the children because any contraception is strictly sexual in nature.
These guys that are so religious should have their wives and daughters investigated to see if they are on any contraceptives. Oh, and let's not forget their mistresses.
We need a comprehension test for the people that get voted into office and a test to make sure their IQs are above plant-life.
Well we see again how conservative means anti-freedom anti-choice and just plain anti-American. Once more we see Church politics get promoted to Government mandated bigotry.
Once more some will throw a fit while others dance the jig. Life goes on--whether you intended for that life to take place or not.
Wait for it - some small business owner is going to claim it's against his religion to pay taxes.
Oh brother. It is absolutely true that most people are fine with providing contraception. Some people aren't for religious reasons.
Somehow though, an amazing number of people want to tell certain groups their religious beliefs are subordinate to the state's beliefs. As Mr Douthat reminds us the Bill of rights says "free exercise" of religion.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/douthat-defining-religious-liberty-down.html?ref=rossdouthat
No one is keeping anyone from their "free exercise" of religion.
The problem is those wanting to be "free" to exercise their religion want to curtail the freedoms of others.
Funny how hypocrites like you are oblivious of that fact.
If one takes Shooter's handle and changes the first "o" to an "i" and the second "o" to a "t", one has Shooter figured out "to a T".
Perhaps these folks have no need for contraception. Perhaps, like Onan, they spill their seed upon the ground. Or- given the Republican's penchant for watching porn- they spill it everywhere but on fertile ground.
Shooter misses what "free exercise" means. It means we all have it....Therefore no one gets to tell me whether or not I can use contraceptives. Those who are against it do not use it...but others who are fine with it ...do! Why can't these religious types get that????
Nobody is telling you whether or not you can use contraceptives.
Some have decided not to provide them.
And they wouldn't be. What this is about is them not wanting ANYONE to provide them, even if it isn't connected to their hokey little religion at all.
You're being overly-broad with that question, assuming that all religious people are right-wing and anti-contraception. The sad irony is, that's just how the religious right wants us to think, because of how that reinforces their 'authority'.
Think of it this way: If you were religious, although not necessarily dogmatic, and were looking for guidance, and the only religious 'authorities' and opinions you were aware of were right-wing, then you would essentially be captive to the religious right. But if you understood that religious positions were diverse and conflicting, you would be freer in making up your own mind. That's a big part of my perpetual "they're not all like that" thing. Black-and-white thinking, including from the left, only makes them stronger.
So, the question is really why do right-wing religious types not get that their preferences are not binding on other people. There are no short, simple answers to that. The best I could do without going on forever (too late) would be to say that they clearly believe that they are strong and wise while everyone else is weak and foolish, and that they are therefore obligated to help us out by regulating our personal lives. And I think they uncomfortable with unrestricted choices, because of the likelihood that someone will fail to make the correct choice (see previous point).
Click!...Put down the pill and take two steps back. I said pill! You can keep your gun.
Wow, do these "sincerely held religuluous beliefs" extend to viagra/levetra? And do these same "beliefs" mean that they pay their workers fairly? As there is NO COST to the companies - it is the insurance industry that covers the cost thereby making it FREE to the businesses their point of "religuluous exemption" is moot! Haven't WE done enough cow-towing to the "religuluous" in this nation, America is a democracy not a theocracy nor is it a "Christian" nation in anything but rhetoric only!
supposedly religious people should first stop to read the bible. The parable of the good samaritan is a good example of what Jesus thought of using religion as an excuse not to help others or ignore other people's needs
Actually, religious people should start reading the bible. There's a lot of good stuff in there about not worshipping money, serving JC best by giving all your stuff away and working to serve the poor. That good people can be from other faiths. Odd how those items are never referenced by people trying to enforce their religious views on others.
Anyway, what I would like to see is that the head of a company refuse to include any health care which includes health costs related to eating meat because of their deeply held moral views, or better yet covering anyone who eats meat. Or smokes. Hmmm, wonder what the conservative reaction to that would be... (that was a rhetorical wonderment. I know what it would be.)
bob
Ah yes, it's always an "attack" on my practice of my religious freedom to deny me the freedom of repressing your practice of your religious freedom. Just ask any wingnut how religiously oppressed they are by "hate speech" laws in their freedom to denounce the "fags."
I wonder how upset these 'good Catholics" about their church being run by perverts?
Spoken like a true "good democrat" "pervert" condom voice.
How old was that intern Barney Frank was bopping? How about Bill Clinton, where'd that stain cume from? Anthony "wanna see some pics baby girl" Weiner? or John Edwards, how's that guy doing these days? Can you say, "Umm, Mary Jo is not coming home to night folks." Ted Kennedy. Those late night swims in cars don't work out to well. Yaaaa, Ted Kennedy, now there's YOUR kinda Irish! Add Elliot Spitzer, David Patterson and Mr Internet himself, Al Gore!
I wonder how upset these 'good Catholics" about their church being run by perverts?
I wonder how upset these "good democrats" about their party/church being run by perverts?
All it took was a tiny pebble to break that glass house to pieces.
Your glass house has been in shards for MUCH longer, given the prostitution, molestation, and just plain out hypocrisy of GOP hatemongers who end up being gay and cruising for men. Lewinski was a grown woman, and for that matter a woman at all. Barney Frank was NOT having sex with a minor, and you can drop that lie right now. Weiner was corresponding with an adult. Ted Kennedy had a CAR ACCIDENT. Al Gore never did anything wrong, so you're full of @!$%#... AGAIN.
The GOP is the party of the perverts, and there is zero debate about that outside of their echo chamber. Strip club for the NRCC meeting, bondage clubs paid for by the RNC. Mike Duvall, banging lobbyists. John Ensign, buying off his friends after screwing the wife. Mark Sanford and his Argentinian mistress. Paul Stanley and his affair with a 22-year-old intern and subsequent extortion attempt. The list goes on. But hey, keep climbing up on your fecal pile that you pretend is the moral high ground.