Posted on 04/26/2017 4:27:53 PM PDT by marshmallow
April 25, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – The Trump administration's Department of Justice (DOJ) caused surprise today by signaling that it intends to continue the Obama administration's court battle with the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious groups over the HHS contraception mandate, at least for the time being.
While Trump had promised on the campaign trail to drop the provision, the DOJ has now asked the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for 60 more days to negotiate with East Texas Baptist University and other religious institutions to find a solution to their religious liberty concerns.
In June 2016, the Supreme Court in Zubik v. Burwell had ordered the government to work with the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious employers to find a solution. Dozens of religious groups have objected to being forced by the Obama administration to provide their employees with health insurance that covers contraceptives and potentially abortifacient drugs and devices.
However, thanks to the Supreme Court, the Trump administration is prevented from enforcing the heavy penalties the contraception mandate imposes on non-compliant employers.
The DOJ's decision to prolong the case, essentially picking up where the Obama administration left off, has puzzled conservatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at lifesitenews.com ...
Okay, by around 6 months. Trump has aged better.
“Okay, by around 6 months. Trump has aged better.”
—
Yep,so don’t put the blame on Sessions’ age,put the blame on his actions.
It’s lifesitenews. All he has to do is lead a show-vote against the requirement after leaving it in place, and they will be singing his praises.
I don’t think this decision is up to the DOJ. I believe the regulation comes from the Dept. of Health and Human Services, so the DOJ probably has to maintain its current stance on it until the HHS secretary overturns the regulation.
“Waiting for Gorsuch” ... or for manpower is my view.
HHS Secretary Price was on an amicus brief of the Sisters of the Poor.
“I’ve lost faith in Sessions. Makes you wonder what the deep state has on him.”
Asking you to exercise patience is probably beyond your ken.
60 days. Big deal. Give Sessions the time he needs.
Yes it’s a complete mess over there at the DOJ ,8 years of Obama doesn’t get fixed over night
How..since they won in court???
Tom Price, HHS, is suppose to be a big pro-lifer; maybe there are mechanics to all of this.
They do deal with red tape in DC; maybe we don’t know everything here as some seem to astutely mention. We do though, definitely need to know what is going on. When that happens, then I will be critical.
Read other stories on this.
Here is more, make of it what one wants.
One thing to consider....if the Trump administration DROPS this suit...the next administration could return to the same type rules as Obama did.
BUT - if the Trump administration continues to take this to court...but is very passive so that the ruling STRIKES DOWN the Obama mandate...then the court ruling becomes something that a future administration could NOT easily overcome.
SO...I hope the administration keeps the case active - long enough to get a ruling by the court that is favorable to the Little Sisters.
Makes sense to not push it hard right now - with all them Federal “judges” nay-saying his every move w/o consideration for the Constitution or the law....
Sessions is the only person in this admin that I still have faith in. We thought we were electing The Donald instead we got George W Trump.
Townhall Excerpt:
However, the Trump administration has asked the court for 60 more days to work with the plaintiffs toward a solution, citing unfilled cabinet positions.
“The new Administration has been in place for only a few months,” the DOJ writes. “The regulations at issue here are jointly administered by three Departments—the Department of Health & Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury—and are the subject of numerous other lawsuits being handled by the Department of Justice. The nominee to be Secretary of Labor has not yet been confirmed, and numerous subcabinet positions at the Departments have not yet been filled.”
“The issues presented by the Supreme Court’s remand order are complex; for example, the original accommodation took more than a year to develop with input from interested parties,” they add, also pointing out that the group will still have “the benefit of the interim relief that the Supreme Court provided in its remand order.”
Eric Rassbach, a lawyer with the nonprofit law firm the Becket Fund, that represents the plaintiffs in the case, doesn’t buy that the Department of Justice needs 60 more days.
I’m also reading around Lifezette.com and Laura Ingraham. She’s a big pro-lifer; surely, she knows us Trump pro-lifers are scratching our head about this issue.
>Its frustrating how slow Sessions moves. There are huge, embedded nests of termites and cockroaches in the DOJ that need exterminating but they keep destroying things.
>Sessions is almost invisible. Holder was always out front, trumpeting his mis-justices every day, it seemed.
>I’ve lost faith in Sessions. Makes you wonder what the deep state has on him.
Sessions can’t get the damn Senate to approve his people. The #1 thing slowing the Trump administration down is the GOP congress.
I think Sessions and Trump will do away with the regulations that require the Little Sisters of the Poor support contraception. But it all takes time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.