Six Republican Senators — Including Snowe And Collins — Co-Sponsored Federal Contraception

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Six Republican Senators — Including Snowe And Collins — Co-Sponsored Federal Contraception Mandate In 2001
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/02/08/421512/six-republican-senators-including-snowe-and-collins-co-sponsored-federal-contraception-mandate-in-2001/

Republicans have gone to war against President Obama’s regulation requiring employers and insurers to provide contraception coverage, portraying the measure as a “government takeover” of health care and pledging to repeal the rule in Congress. The measure, which is part of the Affordable Care Act, says that companies offering prescription drug coverage must also provide birth control insurance (but it exempts houses of worship and nonprofits primarily employing and serving those of the same faith).

The Obama measure closely resembles state laws providing equity in insurance coverage for contraception in six states and actually offers far more conscience protections than previous Congressional efforts to expand women’s access to birth control. For instance, a 2001 bill co-sponsored by Republicans Sens. Olympia Snowe (ME), Susan Collins (ME), Lincoln Chafee (RI), Gordon Smith (OR), John Warner (VA), Arlen Specter (PA) — S. 104 — sought to establish parity for contraceptive prescriptions within the context of coverage already guaranteed by insurance plans, but offered no opt-out clause for religious groups who opposed contraception:

(snip)
`(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERAGE- A group health plan, and a health insurance issuer providing health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, may not–

(snip)
`(1) exclude or restrict benefits for prescription contraceptive drugs or devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration, or generic equivalents approved as substitutable by the Food and Drug Administration, if such plan provides benefits for other outpatient prescription drugs or devices; or

`(2) exclude or restrict benefits for outpatient contraceptive services if such plan provides benefits

White House gives Romney a social issues death hug
(snip)
At the press briefing just now, White House press secretary Jay Carney twice highlighted the fact that as Governor of Massachusetts, Romney supported a contraception policy that was very similar to the one Obama has now adpoted, to much criticism.

Romney has been attacking Obama over the issue, and Carney was asked to respond.

“The former governor of Massachusetts is an odd messenger on this, given that the services that this rule would provide for women around the country are the same as those that are provided in Massachusetts, and were provided when he was governor, including contraception,” Carney said.

“It’s ironic that Mitt Romney is criticizing the president for pursuing a policy that’s virtually identical to the one that was in place when he was governor of Massachusetts,” Carney added.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/white-house-gives-romney-a-social-issues-death-hug/2012/02/08/gIQAH94PzQ_blog.html

Collins Spox Explains Past Support For Birth Control Mandate
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/collins-spox-explains-past-support-for-birth-control
Senator Collins is an original cosponsor of Senator Rubio’s bill because she disagrees with the Administration’s decision. She believes it presents the Catholic church, and other faith-based organizations, with an impossible choice between violating their religious beliefs or complying with federal regulations. Senator Collins believes, in issuing these regulations, the Administration has chosen to ignore thousands of comments that were submitted expressing concern that the proposed narrow religious exemption is insensitive and a direct affront to the conscience and beliefs of many religious people and organizations.

It’s important to note that Senator Snowe’s bill was a mandate on insurance companies, not employers.

And, Senator Snowe always said that she intended to work with religious groups to include a conscience clause.