Senator Mark Udall (D. CO) is smelling bull shit coming out of Tea Party Rep. Cory Gardner's (R. CO) latest action:
http://www.coloradoan.com/...
Democratic Sen. Mark Udall expressed skepticism Friday about his challenger's proposal to allow birth control pills to be sold without a prescription, as contraception issues continued to dominate the competitive contest.
Udall made the remarks in response to a question at a news conference to highlight his latest foray into the volatile politics of birth control. He has co-authored a bill to reverse last week's Supreme Court decision that allows closely held companies with religious objections to provide employee health insurance that doesn't cover all forms of contraception.
Udall said Republican Rep. Cory Gardner's idea for over-the-counter sales of oral contraceptives "has some merit" but "isn't necessarily the way to go."
"I believe it would put more barriers to women's health and contraception," Udall said, noting that under President Barack Obama's health overhaul, birth control is free for consumers, so costs would rise if oral contraceptives were available over-the-counter at retail prices. - The Coloradan, 7/12/14
Here's some more info:
http://www.wfmj.com/...
Gardner's campaign reacted with disbelief, noting that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists had also proposed making birth control pills available without a prescription. Spokesman Alex Siciliano said Udall's reaction "shows he is more concerned with his own political health than women's health."
Udall has cast himself as a champion of women's rights and rebuked Gardner for backing a measure to grant legal rights to a fertilized egg, which some argued could ban popular forms of contraception. Gardner, who has disavowed at least one of those proposals, last month countered with his proposal on birth control pills.
Udall wasn't alone in raising concerns about possible cost increases under Gardner's plan. Reproductive rights proponents also warned that women could pay more for retail birth control than forms prescribed by a physician.
"It masquerades as a solution, but it is not one," said Vicki Cowart, president of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
Indeed, while the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does recommend some over-the-counter forms of birth control, including oral contraceptives, it also warns that the approach could increase the cost and must be coupled with no-cost contraception through insurance coverage.
At the news conference, Udall and the reproductive rights groups decried the politicization of birth control.
"Access to reproductive services and planning is not a political issue," Udall said. "It is a health and economic issue." - AP, 7/11/14
Udall as you may or may not know has been taking a lead role in the contraception debate:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/...
Officially named The Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, the bill, more simply known as the “Not My Boss’s Business” Act, is an attempt to counteract the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case; the court ruled that corporations cannot be forced under the Affordable Care Act to provide their employees with certain kinds of contraceptives that offend their religious beliefs.
The controversy became known as the Hobby Lobby case after owners of the crafts store filed suit saying that they believe life begins at conception and being forced to support and financing their company health care plan with the means to destroy a fertilized egg makes them complicit in a sinful and immoral act.
Udall, who introduced his bill with Washington Sen. Patty Murray, said Friday that the legislation would “restore a woman’s power to make a personal decision based on what’s best for her and her family — not on her boss’s religious beliefs … Colorado women shouldn’t have to ask their permission for birth control.” - Denver Post, 7/11/14
And Udall has been pushing for action in Congress:
Last week a narrow majority of the U.S. Supreme Court, made up of five men, ruled that your boss has the right to decide whether or not you have access to certain types of contraception. But I agree with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose dissenting opinion in the Hobby Lobby case said that the court has "ventured into a minefield." So, I'm fighting back. Will you join me?
http://action.markudall.com/...
Women deserve the freedom to make their own health decisions. That’s why I’m leading the U.S. Senate to reverse Hobby Lobby. This week, I introduced a bill with Sen. Patty Murray to keep employers from blocking insurance coverage for important health services like birth control.
http://action.markudall.com/...
Will you sign on as a citizen co-sponsor to my bill? We must build support from across the country to fight back.
My opponent, Congressman Cory Gardner, praised the Hobby Lobby ruling — but that’s no surprise if you look at his record.
Congressman Gardner recently co-sponsored two bills to allow employers to deny any medications or medical procedures they disagree with to their employees. That is unacceptable to most Coloradans.
The Hobby Lobby decision just gave Congressman Gardner the green light to continue with his reckless agenda. Sign on as a co-sponsor to my bill to fight back.
http://action.markudall.com/...
We’ll begin debate on the Not My Boss’s Business bill in the Senate soon. But as far as I’m concerned the debate is over: women must make their own health decisions — it’s not up to their bosses.
As I said this week on MSNBC shortly after Sen. Murray and I introduced the bill, this isn’t just about contraceptives. Hobby Lobby opened the door for employers to restrict employee access to all kinds of medical procedures. In fact, the Supreme Court issued an order to reconsider cases that would endanger access to all kinds of birth control, including "The Pill." That's why it's so important to pass my bill now -- before employers get a bigger green light to intrude further into women's healthcare decisions.
Click here to watch my MSNBC interview and sign on as a citizen co-sponsor of this important legislation.
http://action.markudall.com/...
No one should come between a woman and her doctor — not politicians, not bureaucrats, and certainly not bosses.
Thanks for your support,
Mark
Click here to add your name:
http://action.markudall.com/...