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South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning on the challenge to Obama’s birth-control mandate in federal c...
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In the fight against the Obama assault on the First Amendment the Obama contraception mandate seven states now challenging that mandate in federal court.
Those states asking a judge to block the rule that requires birth control coverage for employees -- religious affiliated.
Hospitals schools outreach programs.
The states are -- the mandate is a clear violation of religious freedom.
Also org in the mandate would have a considerable financial impact of the mandate would also -- force religious employers to drop health insurance coverage.
Leading to an increase in state Medicaid enrollment and an increase in the number of patients and state subsidized hospitals.
All of which of course would be paid for by the taxpayer the economic implications are -- Joining us tonight Alan Wilson -- attorney general state of South Carolina good to have you with us.
And Nebraska -- attorney general John -- great to have you with -- John let me turn to you first.
Your you're.
-- -- is under way.
One of the things I want to get this out of the way immediately but I've heard from a number of -- legal analyst.
Is that -- -- there is a question about the standing of the states in bringing this suit how do you respond to that.
Well we have standing for the same reason we had it in the obamacare case and that is.
You're gonna force employers to -- make a choice they're they're gonna have to.
Provide as an insurance for product they don't believe in that they believe is morally wrong or they're gonna have to drop coverage.
If they drop coverage you're gonna have thousands of employees that end up on the state Medicaid plan those people are gonna need care.
They can't go to their employer.
So they're gonna go to the state Medicaid plan they told us that argument would work in the Obama -- case it has it matters and it does give -- standing and it's before this.
For courts are.
It's -- resurrect.
I want rules in your your your response.
Well I would concur with what general -- said I mean -- states have a very strong interest in protecting and defending the individual.
Rights health and welfare of its citizen and residents and the common law and the constitution and statutory -- of the power and our state gives at least at least myself and I'm sure my colleagues and other states.
Very broad authority to represent the State's interest in protecting its us citizens.
And and supporters -- including AC the ACLU.
Women's advocacy groups.
-- say that it is clearly.
A matter of women's health and therefore.
It is.
Being a measure about female health and the rest of the considerations are irrelevant body respond to that -- Well -- I couldn't disagree more I mean this is this is about the erosion in the trampling of the First Amendment.
-- people have a right to association to speak in.
And to rub practice their religion their faith however they cheese.
What I'm seeing right now is this administration in the individuals behind these rules are promulgating.
Are basically saying that we have to -- your first a -- liberties in order to help people.
I don't think that you have to do it that way and it's been in we are -- we have to draw a line in the sand right now and how we're gonna protect our citizens.
How does this move forward now -- -- Well we filed in federal district court here in Nebraska.
We think we'll have a very reasonable shot and a fair hearing before then but we.
Expect it will be appealed to the eight circuit whoever loses this is one of those cases that could go all the way to the Supreme Court as well.
The on the -- -- case it took a little less than two years to get all the way to the Supreme Court.
We're confident that will be successful next month in that case and I think we have the same confidence in this case -- well.
Don't -- thank you reported being with us here tonight and there is always good talking with we thank you for your time appreciate it job.
