WASHINGTON, D.C. (MCT) — White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew said Sunday that President Barack Obama had found the “right balance” in mandating birth control coverage while protecting religious liberty, and he said the administration would now press ahead to adopt a final rule requiring health insurers to make contraceptives available to all policyholders at no cost.
After complaints that the administration was infringing on religious freedom, Obama announced that no religious institution that objects to birth control would have to provide it or pay for it. Instead, the institution’s insurer will be obliged to offer contraceptive coverage at no cost to employees who want it.
Catholic bishops have said they would continue to fight the administration’s plan because they oppose the mandate to provide contraceptives, even if religiously affiliated organizations do not have to pay for them.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he too would continue to fight the administration over contraceptives.
He said he would press legislation that would exempt all employers from providing insurance coverage if they have religious or moral objections.
“We’ll be voting on that in the Senate, and you can anticipate that would happen as soon as possible. … This issue will not go away until the administration simply backs down,” McConnell said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
