White House Signals Willingness to Compromise On Contraception Controversy
EmailWhite House officials tell ABC News that they are open to exploring a possible compromise – if one exists – that would ensure that women have health insurance that fully covers contraception while also allaying concerns of religious organizations that oppose birth control.
“This is just the beginning of that discussion,” says one official, noting that the rule begins to take effect in August 2012, and is followed by a full year before compliance is required.
How would that happen?
There is a lot of chatter in the administration about “the Hawaii Model,” raised perhaps most prominently by the former chair of the White House Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Melissa Rogers, who wrote in The Washington Post last October that Hawaii:
“appears to have taken some noteworthy steps to ensure that employees of objecting religious organizations may readily gain access to affordable coverage of contraceptives. Under Hawaii law, religious employers that decline to cover contraceptives must provide written notification to enrollees disclosing that fact and describing alternate ways for enrollees to access coverage for contraceptive services. Hawaii law also requires health insurers to allow enrollees in a health plan of an objecting religious employer to purchase coverage of contraceptive services directly and to do so at a cost that does not exceed ‘the enrollee’s pro rata share of the price the group purchaser would have paid for such coverage had the group plan not invoked a religious exemption.’”
Obama administration officials say that insurance company officials say it’s actually cheaper to provide women with birth control than not – because of unintended pregnancies and complications. Meaning: insurance companies may want to help find a compromise here because it can help their bottom line.
In economics there may be a solution.
-Jake Tapper
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
Joe Biden Recalls Death of Wife, Daughter
I knew they’d tweek it. They’re so clueless they didn’t even know they would be stepping on freedom of religion issues.
Posted by: newcountryman | February 7, 2012, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
Who would like to make a bet as to when Obama will cave on an ill thought out decision?
* within the next 24 hours?
* within the next 48 hours?
* within the next 72 hours?
WILL HE REQUIRE MORE DITHERING?
* A week?
How can we afford another walking disaster for FOUR LONG DESTRUCTIVE YEARS??
Posted by: CHUNKEYMONKEY | February 7, 2012, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
Are they Nuts !!!!!!1
Posted by: ..darkfall.. | February 7, 2012, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
What were the churches afraid of, finding out their employees were doing the dirty deed, besides males can’t get pregnant from the molesting priest.
Posted by: Jeff burge | February 7, 2012, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
Posted by: CHUNKEYMONKEY | February 7, 2012, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
This one can be easily worked out and only needs to be ‘tweeked’I very slightly. I think doing it this way only shows their flexibility and the speed at which they can accommodate and adjust.
f you want to talk a real walking disaster, you look at the last Republican president and his intelligence and diplomacy failures on the underground Iranian nuclear facility developed on his shift, the testing of nuclear weapons by North Korea on his shift, the 9/11 failure and the weapons of mass destruction failure.
Those have real meaning. What your whining about is about to be fixed.
Posted by: Randy | February 7, 2012, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
The reason I say are they nuts is all this talk about abortion rights. I believe in God too but I’m so tired of the people that are against the rights of women to make an informed choice. They seem to think that if they stop abortions, women taking the pill ,and shutting down clinics that these things will stop! They claim to being doing Gods work but all they will accomplish is to put women in danger. Don’t they remember that women that did want to have an abortion had to do it with the knowledge that they were breaking the law.That they risked their own lives because some idiot put a clotheshanger in them. I’m not trying to be gross but it’s that truth. Many women died because of this from infections and bleeding to death. These so called christians vote to not pay more taxes for schools,medicine , or even to help feed them. That’s my biggest problem with them. “Oh yes we stoppped the abortions and closed all of the clinics but we sure don’t want to help feed, cloth, educate, or house these people.,Out of sight out of mind”. In the meantime women will still get an abortion and many will die because it isn’t safe. If the laws are changed we will have the septic wards in full attendence with women that could and will die and maybe not be able to have children because they had to go to a backalley for something that should be safe and legal.
Posted by: ..darkfall.. | February 7, 2012, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
What a great country. A law is passed. Don’t like the law, just adjust it. Over 2,000 waivers so far. Truly, this bunch is a rerun of “The Gang Who Could Not Shoot Straight” movie. Pelosi, you were correct on at least one statement re having to pass this mess to see what’s in it. And these people have an excellent chance of winning again. As a side note for Chuck Schumer. Remember all those evil PAC folks you wanted to prosecute back in 2010? What do you think of The Prez changing his mind over a pledge he made re PAC money? Kind of puts you in a spot doesn’t it? Heck, never bothered you guys before so don’t start worrying now. What do promises mean…they are merely words for suckers to believe.
Posted by: Salty | February 7, 2012, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
In my opinion, the Catholic church is impose their beliefs on all other religious sectors.
The fact that churches are exempt seems not to matter to those opposing.
The fact that 98% of Catholic female parishioners actual take birth control seems not to matter to those opposing.
The fact that birth control is also used to treat other female health issues, ie endometriosis, seems not to matter to those opposing.
The fact that the majority of those who oppose are males seems to be more of an attack on women, women reproductive rights, women’s rights to make their own health care choice is disturbing and alarming. What is this 1912?
NO ONE is being force to purchase or take birth control! Yes, it is to be available without an additional cost for the insuree.
It is truly alarming that people rely on only what they are being told and not the truth about what this legislation is. It is not an attack on any religious sector or imposing on anyone’s beliefs. It is however a great balance between the church and women’s rights.
Just think, how many services available in you insurance plan do you not use? Counseling Services, Drug Rehabilitation, Smoking Census, Chiropractor, specialty services and doctor, etc…
And for those who can’t see through the political fog of the Rep candidate- this mimics already in place Mitt Romney’s health care plan. Such hypocrisy to blind supporters. I really hope and pray the female parishioners stand up for themselves. Also, all who employed with the Catholic organizations that will be effect are not Catholic and this effect them as well.
Posted by: Cameron | February 7, 2012, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
Posted by: Salty | February 7, 2012, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
AMEN SALTY!!
Posted by: CHUNKEYMONKEY | February 7, 2012, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
Yet another Waffle….4 more years? really ???
Posted by: Terry | February 7, 2012, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
yeah right!….Obama ‘waffles’……..that’s why you should vote for Mitt flip-flopper Romney instead. BTW..was Mitt for Romneycare before he was against it?
Posted by: smoking cures cancer | February 7, 2012, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
chunkeymonkey: I am betting on 48 hours…with dithering…
Posted by: Salty | February 7, 2012, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm
If a religious employer objects to contraceptives, so they would also be against not only paying for them but also telling them where they get get them. Wouldn’t telling them be the same as providing them in the first place. So where is the compromise. How can the free exercise clause of the First Amendment be protected if the are forced to provide contraceptives or tell someone how to get them if it is against their religious beliefs.
Posted by: Mike | February 7, 2012, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
Posted by: Salty | February 7, 2012, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
I’m glad there is fine tuning being done to the health care approach. You’re a bit anal to think it can’t be adjusted here and there.
Same with the approach to PACS. Obama strongly opposed the Supreme Court ruling, and the use of their ruling in anonymous negative attacks ads by Republicans who could hide behind the law. Still, he has little choice but to adjust to the law as it stands, and fight to change it in the future. I fully support him on this.
Posted by: Shawn | February 7, 2012, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
This whole business is ridculous. The Catholic church says that require them to provide birth control to their non theological employes is an assult on religious freedom. if they were requiring the church to provide these services to thier theological personnel ( Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Nuns, ets.) they would have a point. But that is not the requirement. However by requiring their employees who are of different faiths to adopt their particular doctrinal bias as a condition of empoloyment is an equal assult on their religious freedom. To fire those who do not believe in thier doctrinal bias becaiuse of this provisiions is another assult on their freedom.
Posted by: Dillon675 | February 7, 2012, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm
POSTED BY: JEFF BURGE | FEBRUARY 7, 2012, 9:15 PM 9:15 PM, it’s getting old, your constant crying about Catholics doing this and doing that, but you have no problem when other religious
members or even those in charge of children in schools or universities are accused of the same or even worse things.
Posted by: Lizzie | February 7, 2012, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
If the Bishops believe that shame on them. Proven liar.
Posted by: Ferrari5555 | February 8, 2012, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Employers have no right to dictate what health services are available to their employees. Health benefits are no different from a paycheck. If an employee has an objection to birth control, they can vote with their pocketbook by not buying. The claim that the employer has a right to restrict employee health care choices is the moral equivalent of slavery.
Posted by: Jim | February 8, 2012, 12:23 am 12:23 am
Obama’s weak. That’s why they’ve gotten away with all the things they’ve gotten away with. Personally, I think churches should start paying taxes. Period.
Posted by: whatever | February 8, 2012, 5:19 am 5:19 am
“White House Signals Willingness to Compromise On Contraception Controversy” – Jake Tapper
That’s nice.
I think Bama should put on his thinking cap and come up with a compromise that let’s the Church stay true to their beliefs and not offer contraception and abortions in their health care plan for folks who work for Catholic institutions.
Posted by: Noz | February 8, 2012, 9:14 am 9:14 am
Posted by: Jim | February 8, 2012, 12:23 am 12:23 am
One of the dumbest posts I’ve ever read here and that’s saying something. The only slavery I see these days is taxpayers working harder and harder to cover your tax burden.
Posted by: Bill | February 8, 2012, 9:30 am 9:30 am
Posted by: Bill | February 8, 2012, 9:30 am 9:30 am
FOX NEWS – Rich people paying Rich people to tell Middle Class people to blame it on Poor people.
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2012, 9:58 am 9:58 am
hawaii’s model would not be acceptable at all. People also have the right to exercise their conscience and choose not to direct others to actions that they believe violate fundamental moral truths.
If someone believes using Ella, the potentially abortifacient contraceptive drug, is wrong, and somebody walked up to them and asked them where they could get it, no law should require them to tell that person where to buy it!
Contraception is NOT basic health care. That’s the bottom issue. NO health care plan (which uses our taxes) should pay for what people should use their own money for.
Self-restraint by having sex only during a women’s infertile time is FREE. We’re not animals.
Posted by: Mary | February 8, 2012, 10:16 am 10:16 am
“…having sex only during a women’s infertile time…”—————-if only we could tell reliably exactly when that is.
Posted by: teenage parents | February 8, 2012, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Contraception is NOT basic health care.
Posted by: Mary | February 8, 2012, 10:16 am 10:16 am
You’re not a woman. That’s just your phony pretense to go along with your cro-magnon intelligence.
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2012, 10:36 am 10:36 am
“Self-restraint by having sex only during a women’s infertile time is FREE. We’re not animals.” – Mary
Whoa!
Hold on there Mary.
Herds of liberals do not have enough strength and moral fiber to practice abstinence during a woman’s fertile time. Even with your FREE sales pitch pop culture minions will not and can not take you up on your common sense offer.
Posted by: Noz | February 8, 2012, 10:48 am 10:48 am
“President Obama has resurfaced in the swing state of Virginia, taking the lead over Republican front-runner Mitt Romney in a poll released Wednesday.
“Mr. Obama bests Romney 47 percent to 43 percent, a five percentage point gain from December, when the president trailed with 42 percent and the former Massachusetts governor garnered 44 percent, according to Quinnipiac University.”
Posted by: Excellent | February 8, 2012, 10:57 am 10:57 am
“Herds of liberals do not have enough strength and moral fiber to practice abstinence during a woman’s fertile time”———————-sure, that’s why most of us live in red states like Texas.
Posted by: teenage parents | February 8, 2012, 10:58 am 10:58 am
Mary, contraception is basic health care to young women with endometriosis and other menstrual issues, to give one example , as well as all sexually active men and women.
Most Americans and Catholics support the Obama policy. Americans believe women employed by Catholic universities and hospitals “should have the same rights to contraceptive coverage as other women.”
Posted by: Jen | February 8, 2012, 11:00 am 11:00 am
Mary – there is such a thing as a miscalculation. Just off by one day and you are done. Not everyone is Catholic in these Hospitals and businesses. They are the ones this law was addressing.
Posted by: pksk531 | February 8, 2012, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Posted by: Excellent | February 8, 2012, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Obama is one and done.
Posted by: Ann | February 8, 2012, 11:05 am 11:05 am
“Herds of liberals do not have enough strength and moral fiber to practice abstinence during a woman’s fertile time. ”
uh-huh. Care to mention that abstinence-only education tends to fail…
Just ask Bristol…
Posted by: yep, i said it | February 8, 2012, 11:06 am 11:06 am
“Herds of liberals do not have enough strength and moral fiber to practice abstinence during a woman’s fertile time. ”
uh-huh. Care to mention that abstinence-only education tends to fail…
Just ask Bristol…
Posted by: yep, i said it | February 8, 2012, 11:06 am 11:06 am
Yes, and not everybody who gets knocked up gets to go on the celebrity circuit.
Posted by: Trudy | February 8, 2012, 11:13 am 11:13 am
Inserting the state between people and their religions is NOT the American way. Does Obama know that?
Posted by: foggy | February 8, 2012, 11:23 am 11:23 am
How is the state allegedly inserted between people and their religion here? Specifically.
I don’t buy it.
Posted by: P-mama | February 8, 2012, 11:30 am 11:30 am
With the vast majority of Catholic married women using birth control, I don’t think Catholics are out-raged at much as the Church leaders, those virgin old men who deny the connection between health, poverty and women having one baby after another.
But that is because they only see sex as a means to grow a baby whereas married people recognize it is as an important very natural way to show love and affection for your spouse on a regular basis.
Posted by: Librarian53 | February 8, 2012, 11:07 am 11:07 am
Posted by: Right | February 8, 2012, 11:32 am 11:32 am
newcountryman, so are you okay with Muslims who believe in Sharia law, getting to circumvent our laws and civil rights because their beliefs differ?
Posted by: Librarian53 | February 8, 2012, 11:34 am 11:34 am
“To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” – Thomas Jefferson
Posted by: foggy | February 8, 2012, 11:48 am 11:48 am
“How is the state allegedly inserted between people and their religion here? Specifically.
I don’t buy it.”
Yes, well if you bought it you would have to criticize Barry and that ain’t your thing.
Posted by: foggy | February 8, 2012, 11:56 am 11:56 am
Some people have trouble reading an article before commenting. This administration isn’t caving, they simply said that they are open to a compromise, if one exists. If one exists is the important part here.
Posted by: Librarian53 | February 8, 2012, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
Posted by: Trudy | February 8, 2012, 11:13 am 11:13 am
You should concern yourself more with things that could actually happen to you.
Posted by: Dane | February 8, 2012, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
“But that is because they only see sex as a means to grow a baby whereas married people recognize it is as an important very natural way to show love and affection for your spouse on a regular basis.”
Yeah. sex has nothing to do with procreation. It’s just a technique developed during the last couple centuries by which people have a rad time together with a bunch of people before getting married, then continue with an individual for a couple years while they are married, and then continue to have after they get divorced. Every once in a while, if you happen upon some money, you might do this other thing called having a baby. But if you have second thoughts or think that your body is trying to kill you, you can burn the thing with chemicals or chop it up, which isn’t alive, but growing and all that, on account of your right to privacy. It turns alive after it passes through a whole in another person, based on the opinion of a woman in consultation with a doctor. But that is a separate issue.
Keep religion out of it. We are scientists. We know that babies leap magically to life after they pass through a vagina.
Posted by: blip | February 8, 2012, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
You’re not a woman.
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2012, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Neither are you.
Posted by: Sally | February 8, 2012, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
Contraception is NOT basic health care.
Posted by: Mary | February 8, 2012, 10:16 am 10:16 am
You’re not a woman.
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2012, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Neither are you.
Posted by: Sally | February 8, 2012, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
I didn’t pretend to speak as a woman. (The denseness of the Republican right shows itself yet again).
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2012, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
Yeah. sex has nothing to do with procreation.
Posted by: blip | February 8, 2012, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
You’re wrong. Sex has to do with procreation, pleasure, love, intimacy and perhaps even more.
Posted by: Gilly | February 8, 2012, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
“But if you have second thoughts or think that your body is trying to kill you, you can burn the thing with chemicals or chop it up, which isn’t alive, but growing and all that, on account of your right to privacy.”
Posted by: blip | February 8, 2012, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” – Ronald Reagan
Posted by: Mary | February 8, 2012, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” – Ronald Reagan
Posted by: Mary | February 8, 2012, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
And they’re usually those filthy females, if only men could decide everything!
Posted by: Stephanie | February 8, 2012, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
newcountryman, so are you okay with Muslims who believe in Sharia law, getting to circumvent our laws and civil rights because their beliefs differ?
Posted by: Librarian53 | February 8, 2012, 11:34 am 11:34 am
Very good question.
Posted by: Art | February 8, 2012, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
Posted by: foggy | February 8, 2012, 11:56 am 11:56 am
And following up your assertions with logic and merit ain’t your thing, apparently.
89 percent of Catholics say contraception decision should be theirs, not the church’s. Leaders in their church have declared war on them.
Posted by: P-mama | February 8, 2012, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Posted by: Stephanie | February 8, 2012, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
You can always expect to hear the most hateful misogynist rhetoric from so-called progressives, especially women. It’s pathetic and sad.
Posted by: Mary | February 8, 2012, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm