The Romney campaign says Romney tried to eliminate all mandates from the state’s health insurance system, though he did not single out contraception.
‘‘Governor Romney stands with the Catholic bishops and all religious organizations in their strenuous objection to President Obama’s liberty- and conscience-stifling regulation,’’ said Romney spokesman Ryan Williams. ‘‘As governor, Mitt Romney pushed for the elimination of all coverage requirements. As president, he will eliminate the Obama administration rule that compels religious institutions to violate the tenets of their own faith.’’
The issue became a hot topic after the Obama administration, on Jan. 20, announced that it would not exempt all religious organizations from a mandate in the federal health care overhaul law requiring insurance plans to provide women with free contraception. The rule exempts churches but not religious hospitals, charities, and colleges that provide insurance plans to their employees. Catholic leaders, who oppose the use of birth control, say the requirement infringes on their religious freedom.
Romney, who has been struggling to attract socially conservative voters to his presidential campaign, joined the other Republican presidential contenders in criticizing Obama. In a Washington Examiner op-ed column, Romney accused Obama of ‘‘using Obamacare to impose a secular vision on Americans who believe that they should not have their religious freedom taken away.’’
He launched an online petition opposing Obama’s ‘‘attacks on religious liberty.’’
The Massachusetts mandate dates to 2002, when Republican Governor Jane Swift signed a bill requiring health insurers to cover contraception, in the same way they cover other prescription drugs. (Unlike the new federal law, it did not require insurers to provide contraception free of charge.)
