Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) surprised a lot of people earlier this week when he endorsed an unpopular, far-right proposal on contraception. Inexplicably, the ostensible moderate threw his support behind a plan to allow all private-sector employers to deny any health services that businesses might find morally objectionable, including access to birth control.
Brown talked to NECN, a regional network that covers Massachusetts, about his position, but failed to read up on the proposal he’d already endorsed. The video isn’t embeddable, but Greg Sargent notes the conversation between the senator and reporter Jim Braude.
The reporter repeatedly pointed out that the measure goes much further than just exempting religious organizations from covering contraception; it also allows employers and insurers to refuse to cover any health service they find morally objectionable. Brown repeatedly insisted that the bill doesn’t do this.
“You acknowledge that Senator Blunt’s amendment that you’re supporting goes far further than religious objections, no?” The reporter asked.
“No, I don’t,” Brown answered, adding that “one of the cornerstones of our Constitution” is “to allow for religious freedoms.”
The reporter then incredulously pointed out that the bill also allows for denial of coverage due to “moral conviction,” and pressed Brown again and again.
“That’s the language,” the reporter said. “I’m repeating it verbatim, Senator Brown.”
The senator, who probably hasn’t looked at the bill he supports, simply didn’t believe it. Brown kept arguing that the Blunt Amendment is only about religious freedom.









