Posted on 03/16/2012 8:35:09 PM PDT by STARWISE
The administration this afternoon released its “Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on preventive services policy.”
Translation: President Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are moving forward with their controversial contraception mandate, which requires even religiously affiliated employers to provide their employees with insurance that covers contraception — even if those employers object to contraception on religious grounds.
But don’t worry: Secretary Sebelius says your religious liberty is assured, so it is assured.
“The President’s policy respects religious liberty and makes free preventive services available to women,” she said. ”Today’s announcement is the next step toward fulfilling that commitment.”
Never mind that, by drawing a distinction between actual churches and church-operated businesses like hospitals and schools, the administration effectively appropriated for itself the power to determine what constitutes ministry. Also, last I checked, there was no such thing as “free preventive services.”
Sandra Fluke should be happy, though. The administration made a final decision about whether it will require colleges to provide students with insurance that covers contraception, as well. Take one wild guess as to what their decision was. Yep, that’s right:
*** Administration officials also released a final rule governing student health plans. Under the final rule, students will gain the same consumer protections other people with individual market insurance have, like a prohibition on lifetime limits and coverage of preventive services without cost sharing.
In the same way that religious colleges and universities will not have to pay, arrange or refer for contraceptive coverage for their employees, they will not have to do so for their students who will get such coverage directly and separately from their insurer. ***
Note that the administration still pretends the mandate isn’t a mandate on religious employers if the insurers have to provide contraception coverage “directly and separately” to employees and students.
Actually, it’s still a conscience-violating mandate, as Ed explained when the administration first announced its “accommodation”:
*** So these employers will still have to provide the health insurance, and the health insurance must cover the contraception and abortifacients. The White House apparently wants to pretend that the funds for these outlays will come off of the Unobtanium Tree, where insurers find money to cover all mandates.
This exposes once again a stunning ignorance of risk pools and how costs are passed along to consumers.
Let’s just take this one step at a time. Where do insurers get money to pay claims? They collect premiums and co-pays from the insured group or risk pool.
No matter what the Obama administration wants to say now, the money that will cover those contraception costs will come from the religious organizations that must now by law buy that insurance and pay those premiums.
Their religious doctrines have long-standing prohibitions against participating in contraception and abortion, and nothing in this “accommodation” changes the fact that the government is now forcing them to both fund and facilitate access to products and services that offend their practice of religion.
Basically, the Obama administration told religious organizations to stop complaining and get in line. This “accommodation” only attempts to accommodate Obama’s political standing and nothing more. ***
Consider also that many religious employers are self-insured and have no insurer onto whom they can push the cost of contraception insurance.
The timing of this announcement just couldn’t have been better. As The Washington Examiner’s Joel Gehrke put it, “The announcement came late Friday afternoon, on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, as the second day of March Madness basketball games were under way.” People skip work to watch March Madness.
Think they’re going to turn off the TV to dig up a dry statement from Her Consistency Kathleen Sebelius? Not likely.
For your list.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
Do most colleges even offer student health plans?
It seems like the answer to the conundrum for Catholic colleges that offer plans to their students is obvious, although it may not make the kid's parents very happy.
If Congress were competent it would moot this rulemongering king by a veto proof margin. But no, too much of it, most specially the donks, is busy smooching the derriere of the Zero, no matter what ruin be invited.
Obama will probably just barely yield just prior to Election Day, and will be lionized by virtually all media as “the politician who listened to America.”
The next president will spend do much time voiding all Obama’s executive orders, he will not have time get any other thing done.
One Executive Order could void all at once. It’s such a
mess. If 0bama is reelected, we go to hell at once.
If a Republican is elected, we go to hell a
little slower.
Dunno if it was a factor in “free traders” selling out America’s children’s future.
I was referring to the possibility we’re going to be looking at a Romney nomination.
It’s too early to speak of common ground.
But I’ll NEVER vote for Obama. Ever. For any reason.
That is a very disgusting and disturbing photo.
Whatever the virtues or vices of globalization per se, the plague of legally ensconced union excess made said globalization easier to sell.
I will not comply with contributing towards abortion.
Telling me that I have to pay towards someone’s abortion is a violation of my conscience and beliefs.
Obama is telling me to go to hell. I’d rather not.
I will not give a pinch of incense to Caesar. I will not sacrifice a child to Moloch.
That may be, but does not change the damage it has done.
America used to be the world’s industrial powerhouse.
That has been DESTROYED. We are a shadow of the nation we once were.
Not long ago.
I would vote for Charles Manson over Obama if forced to.
It’s past time to start giving a big FU to this evil regime.
If he is reelected, the SWHTF. There are too many Americans who won’t sit idly by as their beloved country and their freedoms, safety and prosperity are all being destroyed before their eyes.
FUBO!!!
Nevertheless, the work will have to be done, and quickly. Unfortunately, I do not see the GOP having the guts to do any of this work.
Indeed it is a way of trying to mire what had been called the moral majority in blatant immorality. The Donks are betting that the body politic will in the end just try to philosophically shrug at this. I think they have a rude surprise coming, but even that will end up being spinned.
FR has abuse rules that prevent my comments to this post.
FUBO
Globalization is certainly not without its conundrums. Modern technology eagerly embraced advances that abundant supplies of special rare earth minerals in quantities only possible from China made possible These minerals make magnets and electromagnets work far better. But now, quite logically for it, China is keeping more rare earth minerals for itself, threatening to touch off trade wars.
It’s possible to abuse the Name of Obama too much?!?
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