Efforts to override contraception ruling now in motion
Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives are now in motion to override last week’s Supreme Court ruling on the Hobby Lobby case that allowed closely held corporations with religious objections to forego contraceptives in health care coverage.
Senate and House Democrats have reportedly unveiled bills that will effectively stop employers from discriminating against their female employees in coverage of preventive health services, including birth control and other contraception.
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the legislation before Congress breaks for August recess, while three House Democrats are reportedly planning to introduce a companion bill.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday said they are doing something to “ensure that women's lives are not determined by virtue of five white men.”
Reid added that the Hobby Lobby decision “is outrageous, and we're going to do something about it. People are going to have to walk down here and vote, and if they vote with the five men on the Supreme Court, I think it's — they're going to have — be treated unfavorably come November with the elections.”
The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 vote, ruled last week to allow closely held corporations with religious objections to exclude coverage of preventive health services such as contraception in health care coverage for their female employees.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) spearheaded the efforts to craft the Senate legislation with Senators Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), according to media reports.
