| Wednesdays with Audrey Hudson | 02.15.12 |  |
Senate Republicans will be allowed to vote on a measure that rolls back the Obama administration's contentious rule forcing religious organization to provide free contraception thanks to a rare allowance by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
Reid blocked the amendment authored by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) last week and told Republicans to "calm down" and wait until the ObamaCare rule was made final before offering any corrective action. Reid reversed his decision Tuesday and will allow the vote to add the language to a transportation bill being debated on the floor this week.
Blunt's bill, which is also supported by some of his Democratic colleagues, states that health care providers would not have to follow the mandate if it violates their principles of faith.
"This is about the First Amendment. It's about religious beliefs," Blunt said.
In other deal-making news, House and Senate negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend a Social Security payroll tax cut and pay for unemployment insurance.
After weeks of disagreements over how to pay for the package, which also includes funding for Medicare doctors, both chambers are expected to vote on the increases Friday and figure out how to pay the $100 billion price tag at a later date.
Both sides also agreed to cut unemployment benefits from 99 weeks to 79 weeks.
Republicans suffered a public relations backlash when they initially balked at the extensions in December, and this deal seemingly lets them off the hook. However, several Republican lawmakers say they haven't decided whether to vote for the deal.
President Barack Obama is expected to support the so-called payroll tax holiday, which is set to expire at the end of February.
"Congress needs to extend the tax cut ... without drama, without delay ... with no ideological sideshow to gum up the works, and no self-inflicted wounds," Obama said.
For the latest developments on these stories, stay tuned to HumanEvents.com.
—Audrey Hudson |
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 | | February 15, 1898
Remember the Maine!
On this day in 1898, the USS Maine blew up in Havana Harbor. Americans blamed the Spanish for the destruction of the ship, leading to a short, successful war with Spain. |
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