Acknowledging that it is “not good for Democrats” to go “head-to-head” with “any church,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told The Daily Caller that he and his Democratic caucus “totally” support President Barack Obama forcing religious institutions to cover contraception in employee health insurance plans or pay a federal fine.
Catholic bishops across the country are speaking out against this provision of the health care law.
TheDC asked Reid if he thinks it is a good idea, politically, for the president to go against the Catholic Church on the issue.
“Of course it’s not good for the Democrats to go head-to-head against any church, so we certainly don’t intend to do that,” Reid said at the Capitol on Tuesday. “But we had a good discussion in our caucus today and the caucus totally supports the president. I do.”
Addressing reporters with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Senate Republican leaders, Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn said the GOP will attempt to “repeal” the provision.
“This is just the latest intrusion here into individual religious liberty but represents what we believe is an unacceptable growth in the size and scope of the federal government most clearly evidenced by the president’s health care bill, the so-called Affordable Care Act which limits the liberties and choices that Americans get to make in their lives,” he said Tuesday.
“I hope the administration will back down from this rule that violates conscience. If it does not, I can guarantee you that we will do everything within our power to repeal it.”