Reid: Mandate ruling ‘wrong for women’

Senate Democrats blasted the Supreme Court’s ruling Monday that closely held companies cannot be forced to offer employees birth control under ObamaCare.

“Today’s decision jeopardizes women’s access to essential healthcare,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said. “The bottom line is that today’s decision is wrong for women. Your boss should never be able to make your healthcare decisions for you.”

{mosads}The 5-4 ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. determined that President Obama’s signature healthcare law could not require companies to provide contraceptive services to workers as part of their insurance coverage if it goes against the owners’ religious beliefs.

Reid vowed that Democrats would “fight to preserve women’s access to contraceptive coverage.”

“Women should be making decisions about their healthcare with their doctors, not their employers,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) added. “Today’s Supreme Court decision unfortunately jeopardizes basic healthcare coverage and access to contraception for a countless number of women, and I’m very disappointed by the ruling.”

Under ObamaCare, millions of women gained access to birth control coverage at no additional cost. But Hobby Lobby, a chain of craft stores owned by conservative Christians, argued the mandate violated their religious beliefs.

The court’s ruling leaves the mandate in place for publicly traded companies, but conservatives hailed the victory for Hobby Lobby, saying the ruling protected religious liberties under the Constitution.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision makes clear that the Obama administration cannot trample on the religious freedoms that Americans hold dear,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said. “ObamaCare is the single worst piece of legislation to pass in the last 50 years.”

“Today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious freedom by taking a stand with Hobby Lobby,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) added. “Religious liberty will remain intact and all Americans can stay true to their faith without fear of big government intervention or punishment.”