news-record.com

The headlines say President Obama has compromised on his birth control and abortion plans. Actually, he has not compromised.

Let’s look at the facts. His health law requires everyone to buy health insurance.

What had not been generally known is that his health secretary had ordered that it cover birth control and “morning after” pills, designed to kill any early fetus about to become a baby. This prompted an outcry from many religious leaders, saying this insurance forces many to provide and pay for what their religion forbids.

What is Obama’s compromise? He has simply shifted the payment to the insurance companies, who must furnish free contraceptive and abortion pills.

Insurance companies, after actuary studies, fix premiums for a policy. If they’re required to add other coverage for free, they will surely raise the premiums for all of us.

That is only normal business practice. So we will still be paying for contraceptives and abortion pills.

President Obama gets what he wants and we pay for it, if indirectly.

Dick Douglas
Greensboro