Dueling Birth Control Bills Introduced To Capitol Hill
DENVER (CBS4)- Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner is part of a birth control debate on Capitol Hill that is expected to become heated during Campaign 2016.
Gardner has introduced a bill that would make it easier and cheaper for drug companies to get over-the-counter approval and easier for women.
"They don't have to beholden to the schedule of the doctor's office, they could buy it when they need it, where they need it and that's exactly what this legislation does," said Gardner.
Not everyone believes this measure is a good idea.
"I think this bill is disingenuous," said NARAL Pro-Choice America spokeswoman Laura Chapin.
Chapin believes the bill would make birth control less accessible because it would be less affordable.
Currently, Pres. Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover prescription birth control. Gardner's bill allows women to use health savings and flex spending accounts if the birth control is over-the-counter. Gardner said women could still get birth control for free by prescription.
Chapin said it's about politics not policy, which is why she said Republicans up for re-election in 2016 have co-sponsored Gardner's legislation.
"They're going to try to use it in the same that he (Gardner) did in 2014 to try and muddy the waters in terms of who actually supports women and their right to reproductive health," said Chapin.
"I think they've taken a politically partisan position on something that does have broad support on Capitol Hill, I'm just glad they followed our lead," said Gardner.
After Gardner introduced his bill, Democrats, including Sen. Michael Bennet who represents Colorado and is up for re-election next year, introduced their bill. That measure forces insurers to pay for birth control, both prescription and over-the-counter. Unlike Gardner's bill, there is no incentive for companies to seek over-the-counter approval.
