Rubio Challenges Contraceptive Rule

The Obama administration has decided that church-affiliated employers must be required to cover the cost of birth control, setting off a firestorm of conservative and religious criticism. Leading the fight against the new Obama law is Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who has proposed legislation making Catholic institutions exempt from covering birth control. He laid out his crusade for “religious freedom” in a recent New York Post op-ed. Mitt Romney has also taken a stand against the new rule, encouraging supporters to sign a petition against “attacks on religious liberty.” Rubio’s name has been floated as a potential running mate for the GOP presidential nominee. The senator’s Catholicism—as well as his Cuban heritage—are seen as key factors that could help a candidate win. He has insisted on several occasions, however, that he’s not interested in a VP run.