Trump Upends Obama-era Contraception Mandate

Proving once again that the only thing he hates more than Obama are women, Trump and his lackeys announced this morning that they’ll allow any employer to opt-out of providing birth control coverage in their health plans if they have a religious or moral objection. Prior to the ACA, 20 percent of American women of reproductive age paid out of pocket for oral contraceptives, which decreased to less than 4 percent a few years after it became the law. She isn’t sure who in Washington state might try to take advantage of the rule, saying “those beliefs have no place in private decisions on women’s health care”.

That process was orchestrated by the Left in 2012, when Obama’s reelection campaign blatantly used birth control as a political tool to advance the divisive rhetoric of conservatives’ supposed “War on Women”. “I’ll do everything I can to fight back”.

“Birth control is not controversial – it’s health care the vast majority of women will use in the course of their lifetime”, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement.

“To aid the Trump administration’s efforts in vigorously promoting and protecting religious liberty, Family Research Council today is launching a web hotline for those who believe that they have suffered discrimination at the hands of federal agencies based on their religious beliefs or practices”. All women should have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions, especially when it comes to something as personal as contraception and reproductive health.

It took almost nine months to take action, but the Trump administration will finally act on its promise to undo the HHS contraception mandate and protect religious liberty.

The new regulations protect groups such as the Little Sisters of the Poor from litigation if they refuse to provide contraceptive coverage, but widen the pool of those shielded to include non-profits, for-profit companies, other non-governmental employers, and schools and universities.

“Under the Affordable Care Act, religious organizations already have an accommodation that still ensures their employees get coverage through other means”, Dana Singiser, vice president of public policy and government affairs for Planned Parenthood Federation of America said on a press call.

But, it was not just lawmakers reacting to the news.

“Birth control is a medically necessary resource; it is indispensable for family planning, treating menstrual cramps, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and quite literally saves lives”, said Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, a leading women’s advocacy organization. “We’re filing this lawsuit because the federal government can not authorize discrimination against women in the name of religion or otherwise”.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (D) also said Friday she would sue the administration over the rules. The employers are not required to submit proof of such convictions or religious beliefs.

Roger Severino, the director of the HHS Office of Civil Rights, argued that only a small percentage of employers will choose to opt out, and therefore only a limited number of women will be affected. A Hobby Lobby spokesman said the company would have no comment on Friday, and the Little Sisters of the Poor didn’t respond to NPR’s emails seeking comment.

“It is a basic, fundamental fact: birth control is healthcare”. “Today’s actions affirm the Trump administration’s commitment to upholding the freedoms afforded all Americans under our Constitution”, the statement said.