GOP War on Women Goes Nookyular
Yesterday, President Obama handed the Republicans their asses — again:
After two solid weeks of Republicans rapidly escalating attacks on contraception access under the banner of “religous freedom,” Obama finally announced what the White House is proposing an accomodation of religiously affiliated employers who don’t want to offer birth control coverage as part of their insurance plans. In those situations, the insurance companies will have to reach out directly to employees and offer contraception coverage for free, without going through the employer.
Instead of re-evaluating its attempt to turn contraception into a wedge issue — after all, Fox News (yes that Fox News) published a poll that found 61% of Americans approve of “requiring employer health plans to cover birth control for women.” — the GOP, led by Missouri Senator Roy Blunt (R-Crazytown) has decided to double-down on the War on Women.
Blunt has introduced an amendment to the PPACA which would allow employers to deny any preventive health services (including breast cancer screening, depression screening, and diabetes screening), under the guise of religious freedom and respecting the right of conscience of insurers, plan sponsors and healthcare providers, among others. Apparently, that’s the new meme: Insurance companies are now having their religious freedom infringed. Somebody save them! (I wrote about that nonsense yesterday.)
From Think Progress:
GOP Wants to Deny Women ANY Preventive Health ServicesPost + Comments (45)