The GOP Birth Control Patrol

by: CarolSheaPorter

Thu Mar 01, 2012 at 10:47:12 AM EST

The Republican Congress decided to hold a hearing to determine whether the Obama Administration was trampling "freedom of religion and freedom of conscience," even though President Obama had decided that insurance companies, not religious institutions, would pay for birth control for employees who worked in a faith-affiliated school or hospital and chose to use contraception, which costs about $50 per month.  (The original rule just exempted Churches and other Houses of Worship.) The Congressmen invited five men for the first panel, and refused to let the woman whom the Democrats wanted to testify speak. Five men talking about birth control issues without women at the table does sound like a Saturday Night Live skit, but sadly, it was real.

While Republicans were talking or listening to men talk about birth control, our Republican members of Congress were posturing, claiming that the Obama Administration was violating religious freedom. They failed to mention that New Hampshire has had a law requiring insurance coverage for contraception, without any religious exemptions, since 1999. It was passed by 120 Republicans and 121 Democrats and two Independents, back in the days when Republicans in the NH State House worked with Democrats for the good of the state and the people.  Those legislators apparently agreed with what President George H. W. Bush said in Congress when he was a GOP Rep: "If family planning is anything, it is a public health matter."

One would hope that he would give a woman a fighting chance and at least let her prevent conception in the first place, but he has doubled up against women. He is a cosponsor of HR1179, Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. This bill would allow "a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary...without penalty." What does this mean? While these men are trying to prevent coverage for contraception, it actually means much more. It means your boss might be against mental health coverage, so you don't get any. Or your boss might be morally against anyone having more than two children, so he or she won't cover your third pregnancy. Maybe your bosses are completely against alcohol or cigarette consumption, so drinkers and smokers get no coverage.

What is the reason for all of this? Why do these men want to shut out access to birth control, something that almost everyone wants, needs, and uses?  Why do the few who believe that it is a mortal sin want to make everyone else follow their beliefs? Don't others have First Amendment rights also? And why would politicians throw themselves into the role of enforcers?

It is puzzling. Maggie Gallagher, President of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy and a Santorum supporter, writes that he "needs to show he can put the contraception issue to bed. Now."  In Politico, former Bush White House Political Director Sara Fagen said, "As a general rule, when you're in a bucket talking about women's health and morality that's not a space you want to be in long term."

Politicians are politicians, not Preachers. In November, women will remember who thought otherwise.

Former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter represented New Hampshire's First District from 2007-2011, she is seeking a third term in the November, 2012 election.  She wrote the proposal for and established a non-profit, social service agency, which continues to serve all ages.  She taught politics and history and is a strong supporter of Medicare and Social Security.