John McCain: Arizona Contraception Bill Should Be Vetoed

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview on Sunday that he opposes a controversial bill moving through the Arizona legislature that would let employers restrict health insurance coverage of contraception to only those cases when a woman can prove a need for it because of a medical reason, such as endometriosis or an ovarian cyst.

The GOP-sponsored bill, which would put some women in the uncomfortable position of having to explain to their boss why they use birth control, already passed in the state House of Representatives and was endorsed by a Senate committee last week. McCain said, however, it has little chance of becoming law.

"I am confident that that legislation will not reach the governor's desk, and if it did it would be vetoed," McCain said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "It certainly doesn't reflect, in my view, the majority view of the people of Arizona."

McCain's staunch opposition to the contraception measure might be surprising to some, considering that he recently voted for Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt's similar amendment, calling for employers to deny contraception coverage to women for religious or moral reasons. But when host David Gregory asked McCain whether there is a "war on women" among Republicans, McCain said that Republicans needed to "get off" the issue of birth control and "respect the right of women to make choices."

"I think we have to fix that," he said. "There's a perception out there because of the way that this whole contraception issue played out … We need to get off of that issue. In my view, I think we ought to respect the right of women to make choices in their lives and make that clear and to get back onto what the American people really care about -- jobs and the economy."

Comments

[bobbyt525]

11:01 AM on 04/20/2012

I can't even believe this is happening--it makes no sense whatsoever--what is the point? Protestants do not believe birth control is a sin--what purpose does it serve to have no birth control paid for by insurance (seems this law is trying to enforce Catholic beliefs that the majority of it's members don't even agree with--and not stopping anyone from getting birth control but just not having PRIVATE insurance pay for it)--what thinking person would support this bill??--it's just totally pointless and crazy and a huge invasion of privacy. Who is gaining from this bill?--not the church--esp. not Protestant churches, the citizens, or anyone--maybe the insurance companies?--but they already have agreed to cover those costs so what's the problem??? are they trying to bring the dark ages back???

[CainStain]

08:56 PM on 03/21/2012

Everything the GOP comes up with should be Vetoed! Total waste of Tax Money those peeps. Get rid of waste and fraud right?

[Portann]

07:28 PM on 03/21/2012

It's not even legal for a prospective employer to ask if you are married or ask your age. How do you prove something like that anyway, bring a note from your doctor? Bring in medical records? Are employers going to now keep medical records? What if the medical condition resolves? Do you have to become "recertified" to be eligible for contraception coverage? If you don't think this is an attempt by the GOP to humiliate women out of the work force, think again. Not only do we still have glass ceiling, but we now have a glass vajayjay too. Peek a boo.

[noodles865]

06:39 PM on 03/21/2012

You know I have worked with some real assho!e boss's in my day.many were sleazy men who I would have rather die,then go to them and talk about my vagina.Republican's cant foresee how this could really work against a woman's physical and emotional well being?do they really think these boss's will keep it to themselves,and not tell everyone in the place what is going on in your uterus?you may end up being the butt of every joke and major workplace bullying.I trust none of these Republican's ! I just think they have gone out on this limb,and can't quite figure out how to get off it before it, break's.This has nothing to do with how they will actually vote and change law's once elected,so don't be fooled ladies they will hurt you were they can get away with it.

[slarabee]

02:39 PM on 03/21/2012

I wonder how many employers would be comfortable in even asking the question?

I am foolish enough that I like to think that most people are reasonable and do not behave like ignorant politicians trying to suck up to the nut-cases in the evangelical right.

[Melissa McCarthy]

02:15 PM on 03/21/2012

McCain had better be careful. He's starting to sound more and more like the McCain I knew and loved back in the late 90's....the GOP will kick him out of their club again!

[Portann]

07:33 PM on 03/21/2012

I also like McCain and I am a staunch Dem. I always saw him as a more resonable, moderate. And the fact that he is a war veteran, he has my respect as well.

[blue rylie]

09:34 PM on 03/21/2012

Agreed, I've always liked McCain. Even when I disagreed with him, at least he was generally making a sound and reasonable argument instead of just spewing venom and faith. If he has an opinion I disagree with, he owns the opinion and doesn't hide it or wrap it in a fluffy package full of political BS. I can respect that.

[Ben Wilson]

01:40 PM on 03/21/2012

I get why this annoys republicans because when I hear their simplified ideologicalised take on the issue it's hard to disagree, but the problem is there is no simple solution and no Republican is stupid or powerful enough for an indiscriminate blanket policy, and in their indignance will simply create more paperwork and red-tape for everyone involved in healthcare.

The way I see it, Private insurance companies seem to think it makes sense and are willing to cover it and if those penny pinching swines see merit in it, then the republicans have to be wrong and are over-coating a religious agenda.

[Rhonda Herrington]

12:22 PM on 03/21/2012

I liked what he had to say.

[umeandthepress123]

10:34 PM on 03/20/2012

I think his main reason to do this is after the next election year. Arizona will be democratic instead of republican, with all the bull they are facing, and he know he will lose his job if he does not speak up.

[ldcbl]

09:38 PM on 03/20/2012

Resume candy for his legacy.

[vetxcl]

05:24 PM on 03/20/2012

Hey! Way to make a stand Sen. McSame when you know full well that the CON in the AZ Governor's seat will assuredly not do that. As much chance as a snowman lasting till evening right now in AZ.

You get the trickie dickie red star for the day. Congratulations.

[movnforward]

04:38 PM on 03/20/2012

A moment of sanity?????

[vetxcl]

05:24 PM on 03/20/2012

Perhaps later, when a speech writer makes one for him.

[andrewlgm]

01:53 PM on 03/20/2012

Republicans have opposed healthcare reform due to death panels and government being in the middle of the doctor/ patient relationship. Now they do the same.

We already have someone in The middle of that relationship - insurance providers.
We already have death panels - insurance companies denying coverage daily in America
And now we do have government in the middle of that relationship - republicans.

Theocracy is coming. Wake up.

[quovadiszero]

01:23 PM on 03/20/2012

Is the entire Republican party that hateful towards the ones that spawned them and raised them?What must Mr Limbaugh's mom think of her son?

[Melissa McCarthy]

02:17 PM on 03/21/2012

She's probably thinking she should have gone with "Plan B"

[noodles865]

06:25 PM on 03/21/2012

I doubt she gives a damn,she is I am sure sitting pretty in one of her son's mansion's.this woman feel's and behave like every Republican,as long as me and mine are getting what we want ,screw the rest of you.I am sure she goes to town in her limo and still convinces all the Republican's who are poor that her son has their back,then she goes back to the mansion and shower's the poor off of her.

[quovadiszero]

07:52 PM on 03/21/2012

Cleanliness is next to Godliness, rich ,Republican style.

[BadHaBritt]

01:14 PM on 03/20/2012

This whole contraception bill issue has been played to death on the media without two very obvious questions ever being asked.
1, How does this bill force people to use contraception?
2, With employers having the right to remove specific treatments from health coverage because they don't agree with it does that mean that many other drugs, procedures etc are at the discretion on your employer.

It looks like this bill is naive & simplistic in it's assertions. Typical of most short sighted political malice disguised as an ethical laws. I would like our ethics to be much higher than this BS.

[NeverForget History]

02:18 PM on 03/20/2012

In addition to violating the US Constitution just by proposing any of it, they are also felony acts called practicing medicine without a license, blackmail and rape should those heinous bills be enacted.

Is the ilk of Rick Perry proposing states not in favor of all that legal violation secede from the union so they don’t have to deal with anti us? Or is the ilk of Rick Perry proposing states in favor secede from the union so they don’t have to deal with anti us? If people will recall, Rick Perry was the most vocal in demanding all ex-confederate states secede from the union because Obama was elected. That’s called sedition as covered under the US Constitution’s law pertaining to treason. Racism, as are sectarianism and homophobia leading to serious injury or death, are covered under federal hate crimes. Would they enjoy seeing sexism covered under federal hate crimes as well? Because if they do, they should be aware that if sexism falls under hate crime, and if any harm should come to females and their medical providers, the first people on whom we intend to file criminal complaint in federal court, are the very people making certain they drastically violated both criminal and constitutional laws.

[vetxcl]

05:25 PM on 03/20/2012

Yup. Zonies often establish the reason for federal supremacy in legal matters.