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<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Obama adviser
defends contraception mandate<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
Hill<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Joshua
Altman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">May 21,
2012<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="http://thehill.com/video/administration/228609-obama-advisor-deflects-question-on-notre-dame-lawsuit-">http://thehill.com/video/administration/228609-obama-advisor-deflects-question-on-notre-dame-lawsuit-</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Senior Obama
campaign adviser David Axelrod defended the healthcare law's mandate on
contraception Monday shortly after a lawsuit was filed against it by Catholic
institutions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“These
institutions don’t have to pay for it, they don’t have to sponsor it and I think
most people agree that’s an appropriate compromise,” Axelrod said in an
appearance on MSNBC. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The legal
challenge filed Monday by Notre Dame, Catholic University, the Archdiocese of
Washington and the Archdiocese of Michigan argues the contraception mandate in
the healthcare law violates religious freedom. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Under the
mandate, employers must offer birth-control coverage to their employees without
a co-pay. While churches are exempt from the rule, critics say the law would
still require people to offer contraception in violation of their religious
beliefs. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">An
"accommodation" offered by the administration after initial complaints does not
go far enough, according to critics. Under that attempted compromise, insurers
of Catholic hospitals and other groups closely tied to religious organizations
must offer the birth-control coverage. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">**Text
<B>“Insider”</B> To <B>91919</B> To Join The GOP Mobile Army </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Text
Msg and Data Rates May Apply</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">**<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Disclaimer: The
Republican National Committee provided the above article as a service to its
employees and other selected individuals. Any opinions expressed therein
are those of the article’s author and do not necessarily reflect the views and
opinions of the RNC.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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