Maryland's GOP Governor Champions Innovative Birth Control Law

As a rule, any law that allows for affordable birth control is viewed by Republicans as an affront to the sanctity of life. So when a Republican acts like a responsible lawmaker who serves even the poorest of constituents, we must applaud. The cycle of poverty is perpetuated by unwanted or unplanned pregnancies, and for once, a Republican is doing something to help.

Maryland's Governor, Larry Hogan (R) deserves mad props for signing into law a bill that helps lower income men AND women afford birth control. Hogan and a few of his fellow Republicans actually believe that contraception is much less costly to society than unwanted children. Of course, once the insurance companies saw the light, their politicians did too, naturally.

Maryland's law actually goes further than the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate.

Under the Contraceptive Equity Act, Maryland will be the first state to require insurance companies to cover over-the-counter emergency contraceptives, such so called morning-after pills, at no cost. Maryland also will be the first state prohibiting out-of-pocket costs for men who have vasectomies.

Gov. Larry Hogan is expected to sign the bill into law Tuesday, along with nearly 200 other bills that lawmakers passed this year.

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