When the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby that the government could not force a business owned by evangelical Christians to pay for contraceptives that might act as abortifacients, progressives responded with hysteria and dishonesty. Salon claimed the Court sanctioned “bosses’…
After a surprising run of 9-0 decisions, the Supreme Court ended its year the way we've come to expect: with hotly contested 5-4 splits. Most importantly, the Court finally decided Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the closely watched fight over whether the Health and Human Services Department can force…
We often think of the Constitution as a two-part document: first the original 1787 text, which primarily establishes the government’s structure; and then the amendments, which primarily set forth our rights. But it’s not nearly that simple: Our government’s structure—its federalism and its…
THE WEEKLY STANDARD Podcast with Mollie Hemingway, senior editor at thefederalist.com, on the Supreme Court oral arguments in Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius. a religious liberty challenge to the contraception mandate that's required by Obamacare.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear two challenges to the constitutionality of the HHS mandate that employer-provided health insurance cover certain reproductive services free of charge even over the employer’s religious objections. Of the many who will be closely watching the high court’s…
On Tuesday night, Tim Carney of the Washington Examiner debated MSNBC host Chris Hayes and former Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke over the question of the religious freedom and Obamacare's mandate that employers provide insurance that covers contraception. Watch the video below:
Last week, the Obama administration rolled out what it calls an "accommodation" for religious institutions subjected to the Obamacare mandate that forces American employers to provide, and individuals to purchase, health insurance that covers contraception, sterilizations, and the abortion drug…
Sixty years ago, on April 8, 1952, President Harry Truman directed his secretary of commerce, Charles Sawyer, to seize and take over operation of the nation’s steel companies, in order to give steelworkers a wage increase and avert a strike threatening steel production during the Korean War.…
John Yoo: "Obama's Contraception Mandate Won't Survive Strict Scrutiny"
Allahpundit: "Barbara Bush: Let’s face it, this is the worst campaign ever"
Washington Free Beacon: "Veteran of the Charlie Sheen media campaign joins Team Obama"
Politico: "Newt Gingrich: Fire Steven Chu over gas price remarks"
James Lileks: "The Toll"
The Senate has just voted down, 51 to 48, the Blunt-Nelson amendment, which would have restored the conscience protections that Americans had before Obamacare was passed. The vote came in response to the Obamacare mandate that employers, including religious institutions, provide insurance plans…
Via Ed Morrissey, here's a must-watch video of Democratic congresswoman Kathy Hochul getting tripped up at a townhall meeting by a constituent's questions about Obamacare's contraception/abortifacient mandate:
Last winter, I was in Paris for a few days and stayed at the epicenter of the old city, right next to Notre Dame, in a place called the Hôtel-Dieu, a large working hospital. Some years back a decision was made to provide rooms on the top floor for patients’ visitors to stay overnight. Then, finding…
In the conflict between the Obama administration and the Catholic church over mandated contraceptive coverage in health insurance policies, it’s easy to understand the motivations of the church. Catholics object to artificial contraception—and to abortifacients and sterilization, reimbursement for…
Republican senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts has a new 60-second radio ad in which he discusses his support for a religious exemption to Obamacare mandates. You can listen to the ad here.
What do Americans think about the Obamacare contraception mandate? It depends how you ask the question. A new Quinnipiac poll shows, Politico reports, that a majority (54 percent to 38 percent) support the White House's so-called "accommodation" on the Department of Health and Human Services rule.…
The Hill: "Paul Ryan: Obama contraception ruling reveals ‘paternalistic, arrogant’ attitude"
Before I explain why PolitiFact is once again being deliberately misleading, grossly incompetent, or some hellbroth of these distinguishing characteristics, you'll have bear with me. Part of the reason PolitiFact gets away with being so shoddy is that it counts on its readers believing that it can…
Politico: "Payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits: Congress nears deal"
Associated Press: "US bishops fight birth control deal"
The New York Times: "In his new budget blueprint, President Obama is proposing to tax dividends of the wealthiest taxpayers as ordinary income subject to their top income-tax rate"
Tom Maguire: "Their gist seems to be that the 'less government' crowd is a bunch of hypocrites, but there is a glaring problem with their numbers."
The Wall Street Journal: "Santorum Gets Spirited Reception at CPAC"
Jake Tapper: "Policy and Politics of Contraception Rule Fiercely Debated Within White House"
ABC News: "Senate Democrats Say Obama ‘Reinforced’ His Stance on Contraception Mandate at Democratic Retreat"