To be Blunt..

Today, the U.S. Senate rejected the Blunt amendment, which would have given employers loopholes to provide health coverage policies without a variety of essential benefits.

It was bad enough that the debate was about contraception–as if somehow prescription drugs on birth control are not essential to women’s health, are not often used for other medical purposes, and actually save money for both families and our health system. What’s worse is that the Blunt amendment would allow employers to exclude coverage for anything, based on any reason. It would have evicerated all of the consumer protections regarding health benefits for everybody in employer-based care–over half the country.

The motion to table the amendment was 51-48, largely along party lines. Both California’s Senators Boxer and Feinstein voted for the motion, and against the amendment–and as expected, were champions for both women’s health and health care in general.

But if anyone still wonders why elections matter, here’s an example.

Health Access California promotes quality, affordable health care for all Californians.