GOP to add 'conscience clause' to spending bill

[Tx4obama]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) - House Republicans have added a measure aimed at limiting contraceptive coverage to the spending bill coming up for a vote Saturday night, a spokesman for Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kansas, told CNN.

A senior House leadership aide confirmed that development.

The so-called “conscience clause” would allow employers and insurers to opt out of preventative care for women which they find objectionable on moral or religious grounds. That prominently includes birth control, which most insurers are required to provide for free under current Obamacare rules.

With this move, House Republican leaders would give any employer or group health plan the ability to opt out of contraception coverage for the next year. That time frame syncs up with the larger measure in which this is included: a one-year delay of Obamacare provisions not yet in effect.


Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/28/gop-to-add-conscience-clause-to-spending-bill/

[neverforget]

1. The GOP War on Women continues......

[maryellen99]

16. I'm not surprised

They believe that anyone who needs or uses birth control is a slut.

[sakabatou]

49. Yup

[BFreeFranklin]

60. Besides being Conscientious Objectors,

like Cheney in the Vietnam war, what woman would voluntarily opt out of the necessarily drugs and medical services attached to reproductive issues? You've got a pain in your ovaries? Sorry can't treat you. You opted out as a conscie. Tough luck girl.

[Thor_MN]

2. Maybe I'm extra stupid today, but WTF does that have to do with spending?

[Tx4obama]

3. GOPers are nuts. See link below for list of SEVEN demands they said they wanted a couple days ago

The article below is a REAL article...

Here: Here: http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/09/26/2683131/republicans-say-they-will-raise-the-debt-ceiling-for-one-year-if-obama-becomes-a-republican/

[yuiyoshida]

20. Its a blackmail list..

Republicans are criminals.

[RiverNoord]

38. Just remember one thing.

These seemingly insane demands on issues that simply get people really incensed tend to be about as much information as most voters care to digest. Finding wedge issues to keep the electorate distracted from what is actually happening to their government is the #1 task of the GOP.

[Old Navy]

5. They pretty much don't give a a shit now....

They're just obstructing and WILL shut down the government, and WILL suffer the consquences of the shutdown, ensuring angry Americans ready to kick them out in '14, gerrymandering or not.

[RiverNoord]

40. And how many American votes did it take to put those bastards

into this position? This is more about the incapacity of the American electorate to make reasonable decisions concerning their government than it is about the snake oil selling, gun worshiping, big-business adoring, gay-hating, racist, sexist, utterly offensive idiots that somehow get voted into office.

[Quantess]

62. You have a valid point, there.

Sadly enough.

[calimary]

7. Nothing. Merely another attempt to put women back in their "place."

Frankly, I wish there would be a "No Nookie" backlash. Wonder how long these GOP schmucks (most of them men) would hold out if their wives and girlfriends said NO, and any attempts at hookers or other "outlets" also denied them sex? Actually, some of 'em are so far gone I wouldn't expect even that to carry any weight.

[AlbertCat]

22. "No Nookie" backlash.

Been reading ancient Greek comedy, have we?

[QuestForSense]

33. I thought the only thing that really turned them on was money.

That and perhaps Viagra!

[calimary]

52. Welcome to DU, QuestForSense! LOL!!!

Glad you're here! Good points you add in there!

[AngryOldDem]

46. Absolutely nothing.

It's just one more way they can be huge pains in the ass to the rest of us.

[inch4progress]

4. This is ridiculous? Denying access to medicine and medical treatments on RELIGIOUS GROUNDS???

What about protecting the persons right to their bodily functions. Jeesh.

Way to go republicans. Next you will be telling women when it is and isn't alright to have a period.......or maybe bring back some more laws like this one.................

'If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be set apart seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening. Everything that she lies on during her impurity shall be unclean; also everything that she sits on shall be unclean. Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. And whoever touches anything that she sat on shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. If anything is on her bed or on anything on which she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening. And if any man lies with her at all, so that her impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.' Leviticus 15 19-24

[calimary]

9. Welcome to DU, inch4progress!

Glad you're here! Stunning, isn't it? I like MY solution the best. Round 'em all up and ship 'em to Somalia. All the anarchy and lawlessness and no-government and no-laws and no-regulations they can eat. Pirates and rapists running amok, a handful of super-rich warlords unrestrained, millions of homeless, sick, and starving you don't have to give a rat's ass about, and all the free-and-easy guns and ammo you can hoard! Sounds like their idea of Heaven-on-Earth, to me. They can even rename it Reagania if they like! Or maybe Cruzistan or something?

[inch4progress]

26. Lol Warn the Somalians first. Give them time to prepare.

Thanks, I'm glad to be here It was certainly hard to find a haven for rational liberalism. DU seems to be that haven.

[Snake Plissken]

10. Republicans consider that science, don't be surprised if they try to get it into school books

In their Absence of Intelligence Design curriculum

[Shrike47]

6. My conscience and theirs are miles apart.

How does it offend their 'morals' that a woman can get contraceptives under the plan? They have a very sick view of human behavior.

[Snake Plissken]

8. The GOP's 'conscience' tell them to let children go to bed hungry in order to fund corporate welfare

... but they do it in such a caring way

[winstars]

11. CONSCIENCE, yeah right, like they fuckin' have one!!! nt

[TxDemChem]

54. My sentiments exactly!!!

I read that they were doing some soul-searching after their 2012 loss; no word yet on them finding one.

[Sunlei]

12. why the heck do republicans lobby for savings for the insurance industry?

[maryellen99]

15. and the teabaggers and their followers

Why are so insistent on wanting the status quo when it comes to health care?

[Caretha]

28. Exactly

Let's see, birth control or medical care, hospital, drugs, delivery etc., and everything in between.

The insurance companies can do the math, maybe they might decrease their campaign contributions to these knuckleheads. That'll get their attention.

[StoneCarver]

13. Jehova Wittiness's example?

Why doesn't anyone mention Jehovah Wittiness’s? If they were your employer they could "object" to paying for blood transfusions on "conscience clause" grounds. Their religion prohibits such medical practices. When does the BS stop? And why doesn't mainstream media mention such an example?

[TheDebbieDee]

19. They're Jehovah's Witnesses. And they no longer prohibit blood tranfusions,

haven't since the early 90s. And the use of birth control has NEVER been an issue for them either. I get angry when people repeat old or inaccurate info.

The women can wear make-up and clothing with zippers as well. And they are all allowed to wear jewelry, too. When you spout information regarding any religion, you should make sure you are stating facts!

[StoneCarver]

23. FYI on Jehovah's Witnesses

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah's_Witnesses_and_blood_transfusions

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible prohibits ingesting blood and that Christians should therefore not accept blood transfusions or donate or store their own blood for transfusion.[1] The belief is based on an interpretation of scripture that differs from that of mainstream Christian denominations.[2] It is one of the doctrines for which Jehovah's Witnesses are most well known.[3]

Watch Tower Society publications teach that the Witnesses' refusal of transfusions of whole blood or its four primary components—red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma—is a non-negotiable religious stand and that those who respect life as a gift from God do not try to sustain life by taking in blood,[4][5] even in an emergency

The doctrine was introduced in 1945, and has undergone some changes since then. Members of the religion who voluntarily accept a transfusion are regarded as having disassociated themselves from the religion by abandoning its doctrines[7][8][9] and are subsequently shunned by members of the organization.[10] Although accepted by the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses, a minority does not endorse this doctrine.

[Andy823]

44. Exactly!

It all had to do with gaining access to religious status in some countries overseas. They no long disfellowship you, they disassociate you by your actions, as you stated. There a a lot of things they get you for with this tactic. They also use it if you celebrate any holidays, or a birthday.

[TheDebbieDee]

50. Any religion will threaten to shun you/ban you if you habitually show that you have

a mind of your own. Organized religions need sheep, not free-thinkers! Having free-thinkers frequently attending services gives the sheep ideas. Some members of the flock may decide that God doesn't need money or that their bodies are God's temple afterall and they shouldn't have to maintain or pay for a physical place of worship like a temple or synagogue or whatever.

I don't follow what you mean about gaining access to status in countries overseas, but I resent when any single religion is pointed out as being a cult - as far as I am concerned, all religions are cults.

[StoneCarver]

58. "conscience clause"

Back to the point… A Jehovah’s witnesses EMPLOYER could invoke the “conscience clause” and not pay for a much needed blood transfusion, bone marrow transplant, etc. Any religious “conscience clause” to deny healthcare to an Employee from an EMPLOYER can’t exist. I don’t care if the EMPLOYER is Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, or Mormon. This isn't a forum to pick on any one belief but bring reason to the table.

[Andy823]

59. Not all religion shun those who leave

Only a few do that and the JW's are one, and I may add they do a very good job of shunning.

In order to gain religious status, and the perks that go with it, they had to change their no blood policy, so they "said" they did not disfellowship those who took transfusions, yet if one takes a transfusion they disassociate themselves which gets them shunned.

I would be glad to discuss this on another board, religious board or whatever, but you seem to have the wrong facts about the religion. As for a cult, I never used that word, and I never have. I still have friends and family who are JW's, some very good people are JW's. I just think their leadership, like many other religions, are trying to control them way to much and using the fear of shunning to keep them in line.

[AlbertCat]

24. haven't since the early 90s.

So they rejected their own doctrines. On what grounds? Now Jehovah doesn't mind whereas he did before?


Y'know... if they eject all the supernatural stuff, like Jehovah, they'd be completely up to date.




Religion is ridiculous.

[Andy823]

45. Actually they change their doctrine all the time.

They call it "new light" that is given to the "governing body" by God. It's easier that way to change predictions that never came true, or to change teachings they know don't work anymore. All they have to do is claim that Jehovah gave them "new light", and no matter what their followers believe them. Kind of like when fox news say one thing, changes it and denies they ever said it, and their followers believe them.

[AlbertCat]

47. new light

or they do what they want.

Religion is so obviously about man alone and nothing much to do with the universe and our place in it.

[Andy823]

48. As long as people are gullible

Religions can pretty much say, or do whatever they want and the followers will get in line behind them. They use the same tactics that the GOP use, fear and hate, and it works for both of them. First you get them scared of what will happen if they don't follow the orders from the leaders, then they use hate to get them into the "us or them" mode. If you aren't one of us, we hate you and your actions, and of course the old "you can't be a real________ if you don't believe as we do!

[Andy823]

43. Sorry but that's not true at all

I know for a fact that's not true. I was a JW back in the early 90's and my daughter had to have surgery, not likely she would have need a transfusion, but the elders made sure that I was NOT to allow a transfusion. They did have to "say" they did not prohibit transfusions in the late 90's because some countries they were trying to get into would not allow them if they prohibited blood transfusions. We, JW's, were told by our elders that we would not be disfellowshipped but would be "disassociated" by our actions if we did allow a transfusion for ourselves or our children. A simple technicality used by the society to gain entrance into some countries, but still be able to out anyone who disobeyed the no transfusion teaching.

Two of my brother in laws are elders and I know for a fact in the early 2000's they were still telling members NO TRANSFUSIONS! Maybe you should get your facts straight before making such claims.

[liberal N proud]

14. Their stupidity never ends

[hue]

17. Pullleeeeese! Will we ever get a break from this stupidity???

[PatrynXX]

18. if anyone had any doubts on who is shutting the govt down

think the House made that perfectly clear. They are.

[Snake Plissken]

21. If anyone had any doubts of who is shutting the government down

I sure hope their lobotomy is reversible, because it was never in question, no matter how hard the media tried to turn this into a made for TV drama.

[Beartracks]

37. I like how the White House has been calling it the "Republican government shutdown."

'Cuz it's true.

=====================================

[mountain grammy]

25. Unbelievable! The party of no conscience demanding a "conscience clause"

[sheshe2]

53. +1!

[bowens43]

27. I will surprised if Obama and the senate don't stay true to form and cave......

[Snake Plissken]

30. They'll really show them this time

by working out a deal that screws everyone except the billionaires.

[Tx4obama]

32. Statements from The White House and The Senate regarding the GOP shutdown

-snip-

UPDATE: 5:14 p.m. ET -- The White House weighed in later, similarly condemning the GOP effort:

Today Republicans in the House of Representatives moved to shut down the government. Congress has two jobs to do: pass budgets and pay the bills it has racked up. Republicans in Congress had the opportunity to pass a routine, simple continuing resolution that keeps the government running for a few more weeks. But instead, Republicans decided they would rather make an ideological point by demanding the sabotage of the health care law. Republicans have tried and failed to defund or delay the health care law more than 40 times, and they know this demand is reckless and irresponsible. The President has shown that he is willing to improve the health care law and meet Republicans more than halfway to deal with our fiscal challenges, but he will not do so under threats of a government shutdown that will hurt our economy. Any member of the Republican Party who votes for this bill is voting for a shutdown. It's time for the House to listen to the American people and act, as the Senate has, in a reasonable way to pass a bill that keeps the government running and move on.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/28/government-shutdown-house_n_4008982.html

Below is a previous update / Statement from Senate Majority Leader Reid

UPDATE: Majority Leader Reid stood by his pledge to reject any changes in the health care law, releasing a statement later Saturday that called the House action pointless and futile:

Today’s vote by House Republicans is pointless. As I have said repeatedly, the Senate will reject any Republican attempt to force changes to the Affordable Care Act through a mandatory government funding bill or the debt ceiling. Furthermore, President Obama has stated that he would veto such measures if they ever reached his desk.

To be absolutely clear, the Senate will reject both the one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act and the repeal of the medical device tax. After weeks of futile political games from Republicans, we are still at square one: Republicans must decide whether to pass the Senate’s clean CR, or force a Republican government shutdown.

Senate Democrats have shown that we are willing to debate and vote on a wide range of issues, including efforts to improve the Affordable Care Act. We continue to be willing to debate these issues in a calm and rational atmosphere. But the American people will not be extorted by Tea Party anarchists.

-snip-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/28/government-shutdown-house_n_4008982.html

p.s. Bolding above for emphasis is mine.

[Hekate]

56. Wrong again

[JoePhilly]

57. Just like that time they cut Social Security!!!!

Opps, wait, that didn't happen.

[Javaman]

29. doubling down on stupid is never a winning tactic. nt

[Snake Plissken]

31. That used apply when the media used to report the truth

but now the media draws a line right in the middle of the Democrats and Republicans and declares that the truth, so the crazier the republicans get, the more their insanity gets considered to be true.

[6000eliot]

34. Dump the fuckers in 2014!

That should be the slogan.

[20score]

35. Reccing for exposure.

[elleng]

36. Those f*****s!!!

[Snake Plissken]

39. conservative conscience ... umm, yep

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/09/28/2697151/cpac-obama-hell/

[Tx4obama]

42. Thanks for sharing the link. I've gone ahead and posted the video in the DU video forum.

[Cryptoad]

41. Somewhere there are bunch of sick ,,,,,

gray bearded Republicans sitting around scratching their asses wondering who the Fucks idea was it to welcome these Tea Party assholes into the GOP.

Their point of no return has passed!

[gopiscrap]

51. stupid ass fuckwads, women are just going to love that...NOT!!!!!

[skying05]

55. how strange

how strange

[sakabatou]

61. It's not strange, it's the new normal for them since '10

Welcome to DU.