What We're Reading This Morning --March 20
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Good morning everyone! It’s a busy day today in the political world. Not only are we celebrating Women’s Health Day (in advance of the 2nd anniversary of the Affordable Care Act), but Congressman Paul Ryan will release his Republican budget, and the voters in Illinois will head to the polls in what has been talked up as another “make or break” presidential primary for Mitt Romney. Meanwhile, Mitt’s been stumbling on some tough questions regarding his plans to “get rid of” Planned Parenthood…
In an interview last week, Romney suggested he would eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood. Now the people (and college students) of Illinois have questions. “Romney gets tough questions from college students” – After a well-received speech, Romney ran into trouble when he called on audience members for questions. His first question, from a female student, went exactly like this (it’s in college speak): ‘So you’re all for, like, yay freedom and all this stuff, and yay, like, pursuit of happiness. You know what would make me happy? Free birth control,’ a question/statement that drew both jeers and cheers from the audience. After limping through an answer that began, ‘If you’re looking for free stuff … vote for the other guy,’ Romney picked another questioner from the audience, clearly not having learned to avoid young women on college campuses. She asked him, in light of his opposition to federal funding for Planned Parenthood, ‘I’m just wondering where you would suggest that the millions of women who receive their health services … go.’“
After this past weekend, when John McCain (who voted for the Blunt amendment) expressed his concern over an Arizona bill that goes too far, changes are being made. “Arizona birth control bill stalls, to be changed” – “A bill that would let more Arizona employers drop coverage for birth control drugs stalled Monday in the state Senate because of increasing opposition from women who feared they would have to reveal private health information to employers. But supporters said they're willing to make changes to address such concerns voiced by Gov. Jan Brewer, who said the bill could create a potentially uncomfortable situation for women, and others including U.S. Sen. John McCain. The changes would include reassurances that employers won't get information about workers' private health care information, said Cathi Herrod, a leader of an advocacy group for social conservatives that is lobbying for the bill along with Catholic bishops.”
As the Supreme Court gets ready for oral arguments on the health care law, Valerie Jarrett writes in The Daily Beast on the importance of the act. “The Affordable Care Act Protects Women’s Health” – “Almost two years ago, the president signed the Affordable Care Act. Today the new law is giving millions of families the security that comes with knowing their health care will be there for them when they need it. And the law is helping women address many of the challenges they have faced getting the care they need…. Over the next few years, women will see even more important benefits of the new law. Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, women could be charged more for health insurance simply because of their gender — according to a report from the National Women’s Law Center, this costs women on the individual insurance market around $1 billion each year. Starting in 2014, health insurers will be prohibited from charging you more because you are a woman.”
Rick Santorum defends his obsession with contraception on Morning Joe and tries to pretend he doesn’t talk about the issue. “Rick Santorum worked up on 'Morning Joe'”—“Rick Santorum mixed it up Monday on MSNBC’s ’Morning Joe’ as he blasted the media for trying to ’pigeon hole’ and ’stereotype’ him on the issue of contraception in a testy exchange with the show’s hosts who he pointed out had never come to any his more than 1,000 town hall meetings to find out what he really cares about…. Santorum responded by arguing that the issue he’s passionate about isn’t necessarily contraception, but rather government mandated health insurance, noting, ‘It’s important to people – should be important to people – of faith and no faith.’”
