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Senate is missing the important issues

The political maneuvering in Washington, D.C., is disheartening. Instead of dealing with the major issues affecting our country the Senate introduced a bill to override the Supreme Court ruling on Hobby Lobby's religious freedom.

Hobby Lobby provides 16 forms of contraception and, as a matter of conscience, refuses to provide four additional types that are abortifacients. The Supreme Court ruling does not make any type of contraception illegal; rather Hobby Lobby doesn't have to provide the four additional types for free as a part of health insurance.

The free provision of 16 forms of contraception instead of 20 does not require immediate Senate action. In fact the IUD (which Hobby Lobby refuses to provide) is linked to increased risk of breast cancer, according to a new study that originated in Finland.

The Senate should focus on real crises. The fact that our fertility rate (2.06) has fallen below replacement (2.1) speaks to the widespread use of contraception. Removing abortifacients from the list of pills and devices given freely to women is not a crisis. In fact, it might be healthier for women.

Carol Van Der Woude

Hoffman Estates

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