Democrats kill Blunt amendment

Published March 1, 2012 5:00am ET



Democrats passed a motion this morning to table the Blunt amendment, which would have allowed Americans to opt out of the HHS contraception mandate, for religious reasons.

The vote was 51-48 to table the amendment.

Three Democrat senators voted against the motion to table the legislation. Senator Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), and Joe Manchin (D- W. Va.)

The mandate has provoked a firestorm of criticism from religious organizations who insist the mandate is a violation of their constitutional rights.