What We're Reading This Morning -- February 16

Good afternoon, everyone! Despite the fact that a vote on the Blunt amendment (which would give any employer the power to deny insurance coverage based on a so-called “moral conviction”) is being pushed back until after the Presidents’ Day recess, it’s a busy day here in Washington. Congressman Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has convened a hearing on religious institutions and the president’s decision to protect access to birth control. We’ve been following the hearing closely, so expect a follow-up later today. In the meantime, here’s what we’re reading and watching.

Stephen Colbert on the “the contraception crusade” on The Colbert Report. Watch the clip and share it below!

Reaffirming the White House’s commitment to women, Kathleen Sebelius defends the administration’s decision to require coverage of birth control without co-pay. POLITICO reports: “Sebelius: Contraception rule 'major step forward'” – “HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called the contraceptive coverage requirement ‘a major step forward’ on Wednesday, making it clear that she’s back to full-scale advocacy mode after the Obama administration’s compromise on the rule last week. In comments to reporters following a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Sebelius said the requirement was the latest in a series of steps to ensure that women get equal treatment in the medical system. She pointed out that the National Institutes of Medicine did not have a policy about including women in medical trials until the 1980s.”

How much would $600 get you? Following the administration’s decision to protect no-cost birth control, women can be saving as much as $600 a year. Students share just how much that means to them. Indianapolis’s ABC News affiliate reports: “Planned Parenthood Uses Noodles To Promote Birth Control” – “Planned Parenthood volunteers gave students at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis food for thought on Wednesday as they promoted their views on free contraception …. Planned Parenthood of Indiana volunteers wanted others to think like a college student in terms of birth control and handed out $600 worth of Ramen noodles, a popular meal on college campuses.”

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