Petition to stop the Blunt Amendment from passing (x-post in Women's Rights and Issues)

[kdmorris]

http://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4085&s_subsrc=120214_Blunt_fb_ar

The Blunt Amendment would allow any employer--even someone who runs a manufacturing plant or restaurant--to refuse to cover any health care service it objects to, that would otherwise be required by health care reform. Same goes for an insurance company, which could refuse to include these services in the products it sells to its clients. This amendment would not just roll back access to birth control; it would also undermine one of the Affordable Care Act's most fundamental purposes: ensuring that all health insurance plans cover basic health services.

[Violet_Crumble]

1. That sounds like a seriously draconian bit of law there...

When I read things like that I'm really glad I don't live in the US...

[kdmorris]

2. When I read things like that I wonder how I can get out of the US

They try to phrase these things to not sound sexist, but... the only types of health care that are ever "disagreed with" are issues of women's health (contraception, Day After pills, abortion, etc). If this law passed, coverage for infertility could be done away with (most companies don't cover it as it is).

So, if an employer doesn't believe in cancer treatment, I guess they don't have to offer it? Stupid amendment... (did you notice the Republicans attached it to the Surface Transportation Bill of all things??)

[mercuryblues]

3. I sent a different letter

Dear Senator X,

I understand that Senator Blunt has an amendment to a transportation bill that would allow an employer to object to any form of health care coverage that they find objectionable, due to their personal religious beliefs.

As a Pastafarian, I urge you to vote for this bill. The persecution I have felt from people who do not take my devout adherence to the God of Ramen seriously, will now have to follow my tenent, whether they want to or not. I strongly believe noodles will cure all health issues. I could therefore cancel all health insurance coverage for my employees and make them eat more noodles. With noodles being the body of Ramen and the marinara sauce is the blood of Ramen. Don’t get me going on the significance of a cheese sauce on noodles. I believe that eating more pasta will cure any health issue people have. If this amendment passes I can save a lot of money on insurance coverage. Money which I could spend elsewhere; like political campaigns. Hint-hint.

If an employee dies because they can not afford medical treatment, it is their own lack of conviction in Ramen. They merely did not eat enough pasta as required for sacrifice. Please do not take this letter with a grain of salt; you must add about a teaspoon of extra virgin, organic olive oil with it. After all what is a religious sacrifice, without a virgin in it?

In closing, I also urge you to consider drafting a bill allowing me to punish my employees when they perform their job less than al-dente. As a devout Pastafarian, I would like to be able to give them 50 lashes with a wet noodle as demanded by the directions on the back of the box. With the current law I could be arrested for asalt and buttery. Changing this law will allow me the freedom to treat my employees as I see fit.

May the angel hair pasta and meatballs always be with you,

Mercuryblues.

[Broderick]

4. The ACLU is on the right side of this issue

As expected.

[William769]

5. Thanks for posting I had missed this.

[JTFrog]

6. Signed.

Thank you for the link!

[Lunacee2012]

7. Done, k & r.