Birth Control Vote an 'Assault' on Women, Says Hassan

UPDATE, 5:20 p.m.

Democratic governor hopeful Jackie Cilley released the following statement on the birth control vote:

"Despite hundreds of men and women marching at the state house to stand up for women’s rights, the New Hampshire House in an appalling disregard for the voices of citizens has passed radical legislation restricting freedoms for women.  The bill passed – House Bill 1546 – could result in employers canceling existing birth control coverage for almost any reason. This is more extreme than any similar proposal anywhere in the country. It turns back the clock on a dozen years of bipartisan support for a law that guarantees women have access to contraception, and all at the taxpayers' expense.

"I am also appalled that Concord politicians are spending tax payer dollars telling New Hampshire citizens what they can and cannot do: They are telling doctors how to practice medicine, telling insurance companies they have to offer a new kind of policy, and even telling employers they have to make a basic choice for their employees. Instead of dismantling a bipartisan compromise that stood for a more than a decade, Speaker Bill O’Brien and the Republican majority in the House should be focused on creating jobs, developing our infrastructure and improving education for children. It’s time for change in Concord."

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Exeter resident and gubernatorial candidate Maggie Hassan today denounced the House passage of a bill that allows some groups to be exempt from providing birth control services to women.

The bill passed 196-150 – short of the two-thirds majority to override a veto. Gov. John Lynch has said he doesn't like the bill but hasn't said if he will veto it or not.

The bill would change a decade-old law by allowing religious institutions to decline to cover contraception in insurance plans for female workers, as it may conflict with their beliefs.

Hassan released the following statement on the issue:

"It’s disappointing that the House passed this bill that takes away a woman’s right to make her own personal health care decisions. Speaker (Bill) O'Brien's Tea Party legislature has ignored the needs of New Hampshire women who simply ask for access to basic health care. (GOP governor candidate) Ovide Lamontagne would be nothing more than a rubber stamp for Speaker O'Brien's extremist agenda instead of focusing on jobs."

"This unbelievable assault on women has to stop. As Governor, I will stand strong to protect the progress that women have made over the last century and against attempts like this bill to undermine our health care rights and our independence."

Lamontagne released the following statement about the issue yesterday:

"If elected governor, my approach would be to support passage of legislation creating a `conscience clause' that exempts religious organizations from government mandates to provide contraception, where doing so would violate their faith and their constitutionally protected freedom of religion."

House Deputy Speaker Pamela Tucker, R-Greenland, who supported the bill, issued a statement of her own:

"House Bill 1677 is not about the merits of contraception. It is not about whether insurers choose to offer coverage for these services in their policies. This stands up for our religious institutions that have long-held principles and teachings under assault and for their religious liberties. Imposing anti-religious regulations on churches achieves no reduction of costs or availability of services, it only serves to please those pushing a political agenda.

"Health insurance costs in New Hampshire are increasing at dramatic rates. New Hampshire businesses are seeing 60% premium increases. A considerable portion of those increases can be chalked up to state health insurance mandates implemented during the prior four years’ Democrat legislatures and those need to be repealed.

"Earlier this legislative session, we passed legislation that repealed seven insurance mandates and this has helped small businesses to escape some costs increases. The extra savings from premiums may even mean there is more money in the pockets of our small businesses to create more jobs and is the right way to reform the health care industry. Resorting to distortions such as any allegation that this is about denying women’s health or is an anti-contraception issue is intellectually dishonest."

Jackie Cilley, who's challenging Hassan for the Democratic nomination for governor, and Kevin Smith, who's challenging Lamontagne on the GOP side, have also on the issue.