The White House is threatening to veto a measure aimed at striking down a Washington, D.C., law that bans employers from discriminating against employees because of their reproductive healthcare choices.
Conservative House Republicans believe the legislation, which the D.C. City Council passed back in December, violates religious freedom by forcing all businesses to cover abortions in their health plans — even pro-life organizations.
Proponents of the law says it adds reproductive health decisions to the list of employment non-discrimination protections under the basis of sex, which previously included pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and breastfeeding.
“By taking away this newly added protection, [the GOP bill] would undermine the reproductive freedom and private health care decisions of the citizens of the District of Columbia,” the White House said in a statement. “This legislation would give employers cover to fire employees for the personal decisions they make about birth control and their reproductive health.”
“These personal decisions should not jeopardize anyone’s job or terms of employment,” the White House continued, adding that it would also have the “unacceptable effect” of undermining the will of D.C. citizens.
The Home Rule Act of 1973 allows Congress to overturn laws passed in D.C., but Congress has not exercised this authority in more than 20 years.
But House conservatives argue that the issue is equally discriminatory against businesses that disagree with paying for their employees to have abortions.
“The issue is about religious liberty,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday.
The vote is largely symbolic, as is Obama’s veto threat. Overturning a law would require both the House and Senate to pass the bill and the Senate is not planning a vote on the measure.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has introduced the disapproval resolution in the Senate, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is unlikely to schedule a vote for it on the Senate floor.
