I’m a free market guy, these kinds of matters are filed in the “simples” drawer. I’m for complete legalisation of drugs because deciding what people can or can’t ingest isn’t within the federal government’s purview - by definition this includes contraceptive pills. I don’t even know how they would begin to codify physical barriers like condoms since they’re nothing more than a glorified latex/polyurethane balloon. Is “access” to such things a right? No. Should they be available on the market? Yes, absolutely - the market should be free. If there’s a demand for contraceptives, the market must provide them - that’s none of the government’s business.
There are two cited reasons for the decision to oppose the legislation - religious freedom and states’ rights to govern their own healthcare policy. I wholeheartedly disagree with the former, I can stand behind the latter. Religious freedom precludes *you* from doing things, not other people - nobody is forcing anybody to use contraception if they don’t want to. If using it goes against someone’s religious beliefs, they can choose to abstain. Freedom of religion necessarily entails freedom *from* religion, and I’m saying that as a catholic - I don’t care what other people do in their bedrooms, that’s their business. The latter is more agreeable - the people elect their own local government and if they support certain kinds of policies, they elect representatives that push them within the state. That obviously doesn’t make everyone happy, but those who disagree with such decisions can opt to vote accordingly in the next election *or* they can take advantage of their right to freedom of movement and move to a state that more closely aligns with their value system.
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the GOP is cutting off its own nose to spite its face, it’s a bizarre visceral reaction to the Roe v. Wade repeal. They’re throwing everything they can at the wall hoping that the things they actually care about stick. Perhaps it’s some kind of harebrained scheme to divert attention from more relevant legislation that they might be sliding under the table. Either way, legislating morality goes against my core beliefs, so I have to tut tut them in this instance. This is a very dangerous game in the run up to an important election - they’re rocking the boat so hard that they’re starting to alienate independents, and that’s not a winning strategy.