The Senate voted today against an amendment to restore the religious liberty protections for employers who don’t want to be forced to pay for birth control or drugs that may cause abortions in their employee health plans.Good riddance to her.
Leading pro-life organizations called on the Senate to vote for the amendment to the mandate the Obama administration issued, but Democrats banded together against republicans to defeat it on a 51 to 48 margin by adopting a motion to table, or kill, it.
Key pro-abortion senators including Clare McCaskill of Missouri and Jon Tester of Montana voted against the amendment — which will energize pro-life advocates against their re-election campaigns this November. On the other side, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Ben Nelson of Nebraska were three Democrats who crossed sides and voted with Republicans to support the amendment.
Pro-abortion Republican Olympia Snowe, a Maine senator who recently announced her retirement, was the only GOP lawmakers to oppose the Blunt amendment.
The text of the Blunt Amendment consists of the language taken from the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (S. 1467, H.R. 1179). It would amend the Obama health care law (“ObamaCare”) to prevent the imposition of regulatory mandates that violate the religious or moral convictions of those who purchase or provide health insurance.Click to see how your senators voted. Mine, Webb and Warner, both voted the wrong way.
Reactions at the Corner:
Peggy Nance:
When religious groups are forced to deny their deeply held religious convictions, it is not called ‘balance’ as suggested by this Administration, it’s called “tyranny.”L. Brent Bozell:
By a 75 percent margin the American people are opposed to Obama’s dictatorship-by-mandate. The Senate had the opportunity to join with the American people in rejecting this tyranny. It shows how useless this body has become that it folded like a cheap suit. Those who voted against the Blunt amendment now own this mandate too. It will be so enjoyable watching them voted out of office.Chaser: What if the Catholic bishops aren't bluffing?
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Thirteen Catholic Senators Vote Against Religious Liberty:
Senator Mark Begich (Alaska, D) – OpposedCongratulations: You betrayed your country and your faith in one easy vote.
Senator Tom Harkin (Iowa, D) – Opposed
Senator Richard Durbin (Illinois, D) – Opposed
Senator Mary Landrieu (Louisiana, D) – Opposed
Senator John Kerry (Massachusetts, D) – Opposed
Senator Barbara Mikulski (Maryland, D) – Opposed
Senator Claire McCaskill (Missouri, D) – Opposed
Senator Robert Menendez (New Jersey, D) – Opposed
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York, D) – Opposed
Senator Jack Reed (Rhode Island, D) – Opposed
Senator Pat Leahy (Vermont, D) – Opposed
Senator Maria Cantwell (Washington, D) – Opposed
Senator Patty Murray (Washington, D) – Opposed
Hat tip: peece
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There is nothing we can do about Webb. But Warner will be made to answer for this in two years.
ReplyDeleteMine failed utterly.
ReplyDeleteToo little too late Senator Casey. NOW, he wants to be seen as the pro-life senator as he runs for re-election. Yet he voted for funding for Planned Parenthood, voted for Obamacare, and voted for abortion funding overseas.Plus, it took his hometown pro-life chapter five years to get a meeting with him. What a phony!
ReplyDeleteCouch Catholics. The progressives that have been subverted by socialists and worse. In the USSR they were called "useful idiots"
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