XPost: ba.politics, dc.media, soc.penpals   
   XPost: alt.burningman   
   From: Deport"@dizum.com   
      
   Several high-profile Republicans possibly eyeing a presidential   
   bid in 2016 praised the Supreme Court’s decision in Burwell v.   
   Hobby Lobby as a victory for religious liberty while also   
   sharply attacking the Obama administration for executive   
   overreach through his signature legislative achievement.   
      
   In an extremely contentious case splitting advocates of   
   religious liberty against women’s rights groups, the Supreme   
   Court ruled today that for-profit corporations with sincerely   
   held religious beliefs are not required to provide a full range   
   of contraceptives free of cost to employees pursuant to the   
   Affordable Care Act.   
      
   Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is believed to be   
   considering a campaign for president, said that while he   
   believes the court’s decision affirms religious freedom of   
   American families, “believers” will have to find courage to   
   “stand up for what’s right” as the legal and legislative battle   
   plays out in the coming months and years.   
      
   “These deeply held religious beliefs are more important than the   
   whims and demands of government,” Jindal wrote in a statement.   
   “The court has made clear today that the Obama administration’s   
   assault on religious freedom in this case went too far – but   
   this assault will not stop, in our courts, in our schools, and   
   in the halls of power.”   
      
   Sen. Marco Rubio, another contender for the Republican   
   nomination, said the decision reminded him “why Obamacare is   
   such a flawed law that needs to be entirely repealed and   
   replaced.”   
      
   “Obamacare was written and passed with a clear disregard for the   
   reality that millions of Americans are inspired by their faiths   
   in all aspects of their lives, including the way entrepreneurs   
   manage their businesses,” Rubio, R-Fla., wrote. “In America, no   
   one should be forced to violate their religious beliefs if they   
   wish to run a business.”   
      
   House Speaker John Boehner also said his objective continues to   
   be repeal of the Affordable Care Act.   
      
   “The president’s health care law remains an unworkable mess and   
   a drag on our economy,” Boehner, R-Ohio, said. “We must repeal   
   it and enact better solutions that start with lowering   
   Americans’ health care costs.”   
      
   Sen. Ted Cruz, another Republican often mentioned as a possible   
   candidate in 2016, called the decision is a “landmark victory   
   for religious liberty,” while also condemning the White House   
   for taking executive actions to alter the health care law.   
      
   “The decision affirms that Americans, contrary to what the Obama   
   administration attempted to impose, have a right to live and   
   work in accordance to their conscience and can’t be forced to   
   surrender their religious freedom once they open a business,” he   
   said.   
      
   Cruz’s statement struck a similar tone to Sen. Rand Paul,   
   another Republican considered by pundits as a likely contender.   
      
   “Religious liberty will remain intact and all Americans can stay   
   true to their faith without fear of big government intervention   
   or punishment,” Paul, R-Ky., wrote in a statement.   
      
   Democrats, meanwhile, harshly criticized the Supreme Court for   
   its ruling today.   
      
   “This deeply misguided and destructive decision is a serious   
   blow to Americans’ ability to make their own health decisions,”   
   House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wrote.   
      
   Sen. Patty Murray, who joined 18 other Senate Democrats in   
   filing an amicus brief in support of the government’s position   
   in the case, pledged to find a legislative remedy to counter the   
   court’s decision.   
      
   “Since the Supreme Court decided it will not protect women’s   
   access to health care, I will,” Murray, D-Wash., said in a   
   statement. “In the coming days I will work with my colleagues   
   and the administration to protect this access, regardless of who   
   signs your paycheck.”   
      
   Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, ranking Democrat on the House Committee   
   on Oversight and Government Reform, joined with Sandra Fluke, a   
   candidate for California State Senate who gained fame when she   
   was denied the opportunity to testify at a 2012 hearing on the   
   Affordable Care Act’s required inclusion of contraception   
   coverage in health plans. Today, the duo called on Congress to   
   take action “to ensure that women employed by these corporations   
   continue to have affordable access to reproductive healthcare.”   
      
   “While we firmly believe that every American should have the   
   ability to practice his or her own faith, we cannot ignore the   
   interests and the health of our nation’s women,” Cummings and   
   Fluke wrote. “The pill and other contraceptives have had a   
   profound impact on the well-being of women, giving them the   
   capacity to make the best decisions about very personal matters   
   for themselves and their families — and today’s decision puts   
   the well-being of many women in jeopardy.”   
      
   http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/06/hobby-lobby-ruling-   
   reignites-calls-for-repeal-by-possible-gop-candidates/   
      
       
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)