The White House will announce a retreat from its controversial rule requiring religious organizations like charities and hospitals to include contraception in their healthcare plans.
President Obama has come under heavy criticism from the Catholic Church and other religious organizations, Republicans and even some Democrats over the issue, and Vice President Biden has suggested a compromise could be worked out.
A White House official on Friday confirmed an announcement on changing the rule would be made Friday. The White House is referring to the change as an accommodation.
It is unclear whether President Obama, who ducked questions on the issue on Thursday, will announce the change or comment on it in public.
According to ABC News, the White House will allow employees to secure birth control as part of their health insurance by going through a healthcare provider, and not directly through their employer.
It’s unclear whether such an offer would appease critics of the rule, who have portrayed it as an attack on religious freedom since it would force religious organizations to offer something that goes against their beliefs.
The White House has been looking at a Hawaiian state law that requires employers to notify their employees that they do not offer the coverage. The employees can then buy the coverage directly from an insurer. The coverage is provided at a low cost, as the insurer saves money by offering the coverage by reducing pregnancies.
The issue increasingly has become a political problem for Obama. Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) vowed to have it repealed, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee will consider legislation next week.
Several Democrats have spoken out against it, including Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.) and Virginia Senate candidate Tim Kaine, the former head of the Democratic National Committee.
Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan even warned it could cost Obama his reelection.
While the rule would not require churches to offer birth control, it would require hospitals, charities and schools with the Catholic Church’s backing to do so under the Obama healthcare law.
that actually took less time than I thought it would
Bowing to political pressure....he knew what Catholic (and the others) thought of this ahead of time, didn't care. THIS is why we need to make him a one term president. When he doesn't have political pressure anymore he will push more of this kind of infringment of rights on us, and won't back down because he doesn't have a NEED to.
So the compromise is that the insurance providers are going to offer BC free of charge? Let me ask who is making all this free BC no one is going to be paying for, or are we to believe insurance companies are just going to cover the cost of free BC? This compromise looks like it will be nothing but a smoke screen.
You are exactly right, and hopefully this will be seen for what it is.
Quoting blessedwith:Bowing to political pressure....he knew what Catholic (and the others) thought of this ahead of time, didn't care. THIS is why we need to make him a one term president. When he doesn't have political pressure anymore he will push more of this kind of infringment of rights on us, and won't back down because he doesn't have a NEED to.
The right chooses to ignore that to use as a political wedge issue
It sucks when ya got trash on your side so the desperation shows in each fabricated controversy
Quoting candlegal:that actually took less time than I thought it would
the desperation he shows in wanted to be re-elected is showing.
Quoting sweet-a-kins:
Actually in January they issues a statement that said they would seek a compromise
The right chooses to ignore that to use as a political wedge issue
It sucks when ya got trash on your side so the desperation shows in each fabricated controversy
Quoting candlegal:that actually took less time than I thought it would
Eight Year Old Girl Given "Catastrophe Award" By Teacher
- candlegal
on Feb. 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM