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President Obama offered “accommodations” to religious institutions on the new health insurance rule Friday, with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, left.
WASHINGTON — President Obama, seeking to dampen a runaway political furor over birth control and religious liberty, unveiled a plan on Friday that is meant to calm the right’s ire about a new administration rule that would require health insurance plans — including those offered by Roman Catholic hospitals, universities and charities — to provide free birth control to female employees.
Casting himself as both “a citizen and a Christian” trying to balance individual liberty versus public health, Mr. Obama announced what administration officials called an “accommodation” that they said sought to demonstrate respect for religious beliefs. It will be similar to the path taken in several other states — particularly Hawaii — that have similar rules, but would require that insurance companies, and not religious institutions, offer contraceptive coverage at no cost.
“Religious liberty will be protected, and a law that requires free preventive care will not discriminate against women,” Mr. Obama told reporters in the White House briefing room. He said the “political football” his foes were making of the new rule prompted him to speed up work on a solution. “It became clear that spending months hammering a solution was not going to be an option.”
But administration officials also acknowledged that the revision announced Friday would most likely fail to mollify the Catholic bishops who have waged war against the rule or, for that matter, Republicans in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail who have joined the fight. At most, the compromise could potentially help the president shore up support among wavering Democrats, who have also expressed doubt about the rule, along with more liberal religious organizations and charities, who oppose the rule but not as vehemently as the Catholic leadership.
In a statement, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, called the move a “step in the right direction,” but said the bishops would reserve judgment on the plan until they had the details.
The administration plan most closely resembles Hawaii’s, in which employees at religious institutions whose health insurance plans do not offer free contraception can get birth control through side benefits. The difference, though, is that whereas in Hawaii the employees nominally pay for the benefits, the Obama proposal would shift the cost to insurers. Administration officials hope that insurers will not object because in the long run, they argue, contraceptives end up saving more money than they cost because they prevent unwanted pregnancies.
The administration’s move won an important endorsement from Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, whose support the White House sees as essential to show that the policy is backed by some religious organizations. In fact, Sister Carol’s endorsement was so important that Mr. Obama called her Friday morning — along with Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood — to inform her of the compromise.
“The Catholic Health Association is very pleased with the White House announcement that a resolution has been reached that protects the religious liberty and conscience rights of Catholic institutions,” Sister Carol said in a statement. “The framework developed has responded to the issues we identified that needed to be fixed.”
Abortion rights groups also seemed open to the White House shift and blamed the controversy on conservative efforts to undermine the president.
“We’re reassured that it appears that no woman, no matter where she works, will lose birth control coverage, but it’s outrageous and disheartening that this important step forward for women became a target of the far-right,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily’s List.
Nancy Keenan, president of Naral Pro-Choice America, said the Obama administration’s action represented a reaffirmation of the commitment to ensuring contraceptive coverage. “Unfortunately, some opponents of contraception may not be satisfied,” she said.
The administration announced the birth-control rule last month, and since then, Republican presidential candidates and conservative leaders have sought to frame it as an example of the administration’s insensitivity to religious beliefs, prompting Mr. Obama’s aides to explore ways to make it more palatable to religious-affiliated institutions, perhaps by allowing some employers to make side insurance plans available that are not directly paid for by the institutions.
President Obama offered “accommodations” to religious institutions on the new health insurance rule Friday, with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, left.
WASHINGTON — President Obama, seeking to dampen a runaway political furor over birth control and religious liberty, unveiled a plan on Friday that is meant to calm the right’s ire about a new administration rule that would require health insurance plans — including those offered by Roman Catholic hospitals, universities and charities — to provide free birth control to female employees.
“Religious liberty will be protected, and a law that requires free preventive care will not discriminate against women,” Mr. Obama told reporters in the White House briefing room. He said the “political football” his foes were making of the new rule prompted him to speed up work on a solution. “It became clear that spending months hammering a solution was not going to be an option.”
But administration officials also acknowledged that the revision announced Friday would most likely fail to mollify the Catholic bishops who have waged war against the rule or, for that matter, Republicans in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail who have joined the fight. At most, the compromise could potentially help the president shore up support among wavering Democrats, who have also expressed doubt about the rule, along with more liberal religious organizations and charities, who oppose the rule but not as vehemently as the Catholic leadership.
In a statement, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, called the move a “step in the right direction,” but said the bishops would reserve judgment on the plan until they had the details.
The administration plan most closely resembles Hawaii’s, in which employees at religious institutions whose health insurance plans do not offer free contraception can get birth control through side benefits. The difference, though, is that whereas in Hawaii the employees nominally pay for the benefits, the Obama proposal would shift the cost to insurers. Administration officials hope that insurers will not object because in the long run, they argue, contraceptives end up saving more money than they cost because they prevent unwanted pregnancies.
The administration’s move won an important endorsement from Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, whose support the White House sees as essential to show that the policy is backed by some religious organizations. In fact, Sister Carol’s endorsement was so important that Mr. Obama called her Friday morning — along with Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood — to inform her of the compromise.
“The Catholic Health Association is very pleased with the White House announcement that a resolution has been reached that protects the religious liberty and conscience rights of Catholic institutions,” Sister Carol said in a statement. “The framework developed has responded to the issues we identified that needed to be fixed.”
Abortion rights groups also seemed open to the White House shift and blamed the controversy on conservative efforts to undermine the president.
“We’re reassured that it appears that no woman, no matter where she works, will lose birth control coverage, but it’s outrageous and disheartening that this important step forward for women became a target of the far-right,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily’s List.
Nancy Keenan, president of Naral Pro-Choice America, said the Obama administration’s action represented a reaffirmation of the commitment to ensuring contraceptive coverage. “Unfortunately, some opponents of contraception may not be satisfied,” she said.
The administration announced the birth-control rule last month, and since then, Republican presidential candidates and conservative leaders have sought to frame it as an example of the administration’s insensitivity to religious beliefs, prompting Mr. Obama’s aides to explore ways to make it more palatable to religious-affiliated institutions, perhaps by allowing some employers to make side insurance plans available that are not directly paid for by the institutions.
Political fallout from contraception policy change
The Republican presidential candidates appealed Friday for the hearts and votes of conservatives at the movement's premier conference in Washington, with each trying to gain the edge as the race endures yet another shakeup.
Mitt Romney staunchly defended his GOP credentials, describing his term as Massachusetts governor as "severely conservative."
Rick Santorum took several swipes at Romney without referring to him by name. He urged the party not to pursue a "hollow victory" in November by compromising on their choice for GOP nominee.
Newt Gingrich, who spoke last at the Conservative Political Action Conference, cast his candidacy as a threat to the Washington establishment. But he said the party and the country need his "bold solutions," as he offered a hyper-specific forecast of what he would accomplish in the early hours and days of a Gingrich presidency.
The impassioned arguments came as the dynamic in the Republican race begins to turn.
Santorum, after winning three state contests Tuesday, is rising in national polls and catching up to Romney. Next up are the Maine caucuses on Saturday, followed by the Michigan and Arizona primaries later in the month.
Santorum is trying to build on his momentum -- a chance he missed after winning the Iowa caucuses in part because Romney was prematurely declared the victor. Gingrich is trying to maintain his claimed status as the conservative alternative to Romney. And Romney is trying retain his frontrunner status, and keep the competition at bay.
Ron Paul, who has not yet won a primary or caucus but has a loyal following, did not attend CPAC.
Addressing the conference last, Gingrich ascribed the attacks against his campaign to establishment fear.
"This campaign is a mortal threat to their grip on the establishment," he said of insiders, "because we intend to change Washington, not accommodate it. "
Gingrich said America needs "bold solutions" and not "timidity."
He devoted a chunk of his speech to describing his envisioned first day as president. It would involve abolishing all White House "czars," repealing the health care overhaul, and approving the Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline, among other changes. Gingrich claimed he could repudiate "at least 40 percent" of Obama's government on the opening day.
Romney devoted a significant portion of his speech Friday to explaining the roots and record of his conservatism -- on fiscal and social issues.
"I know conservatism because I have lived conservatism," Romney said.
He claimed he was a "severely conservative Republican governor" in Massachusetts and that if elected would lead a "pro-life presidency."
In Massachusetts, Romney said he fought to make sure gay couples from out of state could not get married in Massachusetts, though the state was still moving to allow gay marriage for in-state couples. "On my watch, we fought hard and prevented Massachusetts from becoming the Las Vegas of gay marriage," Romney said.
While defending his credentials, he also tried to distinguish himself from the remaining GOP contenders, all of whom served or are serving in Congress. As he has before, Romney said he's the only one "who has never worked a day in Washington."
Santorum earlier in the day argued that voters should want somebody with Washington experience to be the nominee.
Santorum, who bills himself as the race's pure conservative, used his speech to play down concerns that the GOP needs to attract moderates in November. He said the party should not "apologize" for its principles, and needs a candidate the base can get excited about. He said Republicans need somebody who can "draw contrasts" with President Obama.
"We need conservatives now to rally for a conservative -- to go into November to excite the conservative base," Santorum said.
He pitched what he described as an economic plan for "blue collar" Americans, vowed to balance the budget and went on to rail against alleged overreach by the Obama administration.
As several speakers did the day before, Santorum singled out the administration's proposal to require contraceptive coverage at religious organizations.
"It's about economic liberty. It's about freedom of speech," Santorum said. The administration announced a change to the policy on Friday in the face of the backlash, shifting the coverage burden to insurance companies.
A new Fox News poll on Friday showed Santorum creeping up on Romney following his wins in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.
In interviews conducted on Wednesday and Thursday nights -- after his wins -- Santorum's support nearly doubled, which put him tied at the top with Romney for those two days at 30 percent. Looking at the results from all four nights of this week's interviewing, Romney retained his front-runner spot with 33 percent, followed by Santorum at 23 percent, Gingrich at 22 percent and Paul at 15 percent.
Obama addresses health care mandate controversy
