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EXCLUSIVE: As State Rep, Scott Brown Voted For Contraception Mandate Stronger Than Obama’s
EXCLUSIVE: As State Rep, Scott Brown Voted For Contraception Mandate Stronger Than Obama’s
By Igor Volsky
Last week, responding to an outcry from Catholic leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the Obama administration modified regulations requiring insurers and employers to provide contraception as part of their health care plans without additional co-payments. Under the new rule, religiously affiliated colleges, universities, and hospitals that raise religious objections to birth control can decline the benefit and their employees will still receive contraception coverage directly from the insurer.
Most Republicans are not satisfied with the modification, however, and are co-sponsoring legislation that would significantly broaden the conscience exclusion. On Monday night, Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) joined the pack, with a spokesperson telling the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent that the senator “appreciates President Obama’s willingness to revisit this issue, but believes it needs to be clarified through legislation” that would permit any employer or insurance plan to exclude any health service, no matter how essential, from coverage if they morally object to it.
But Massachusetts already requires insurers to carry contraceptive coverage for women and Brown voted for the provision as a member of the Massachusetts Assembly on Jan. 30, 2002, ThinkProgress has learned. At the time, the Catholic Conference of Massachusetts, lobbied against the measure and urged lawmakers to adopt an amendment exempting organizations that are affiliated with the Catholic church or have a moral objection to contraception. Brown supported that provision, but once it failed in a vote of 106 to 49, he voted ‘YES’ on the underlying bill, which only exempted “an employer that is a church or qualified church-controlled organization” from offering birth control:
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/02/14/424833/exclusive-as-state-rep-scott-brown-voted-for-contraception-mandate-similar-to-obamas/
By Igor Volsky
Last week, responding to an outcry from Catholic leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the Obama administration modified regulations requiring insurers and employers to provide contraception as part of their health care plans without additional co-payments. Under the new rule, religiously affiliated colleges, universities, and hospitals that raise religious objections to birth control can decline the benefit and their employees will still receive contraception coverage directly from the insurer.
Most Republicans are not satisfied with the modification, however, and are co-sponsoring legislation that would significantly broaden the conscience exclusion. On Monday night, Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) joined the pack, with a spokesperson telling the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent that the senator “appreciates President Obama’s willingness to revisit this issue, but believes it needs to be clarified through legislation” that would permit any employer or insurance plan to exclude any health service, no matter how essential, from coverage if they morally object to it.
But Massachusetts already requires insurers to carry contraceptive coverage for women and Brown voted for the provision as a member of the Massachusetts Assembly on Jan. 30, 2002, ThinkProgress has learned. At the time, the Catholic Conference of Massachusetts, lobbied against the measure and urged lawmakers to adopt an amendment exempting organizations that are affiliated with the Catholic church or have a moral objection to contraception. Brown supported that provision, but once it failed in a vote of 106 to 49, he voted ‘YES’ on the underlying bill, which only exempted “an employer that is a church or qualified church-controlled organization” from offering birth control:
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/02/14/424833/exclusive-as-state-rep-scott-brown-voted-for-contraception-mandate-similar-to-obamas/
Scott Brown is a co-sponsor to the Blunt bill...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002308546
With Collins and Snowe coming out in support of Obama's policy, Brown has no where to hide. This is a gift for Elizabeth Warren.
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