Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced Wednesday he will split with his party and vote for the GOP Blunt amendment that would let any employer deny contraceptive or other health services in their insurance plans.
Manchin said in a statement:
“While I would have preferred that both sides would have come together around a solution like we had in West Virginia, I am voting in favor of this measure to protect the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Well-intentioned people on both sides of this issue can respectfully disagree, but for me this comes down to our religious liberties. I truly believe that we must safeguard Americans’ right to exercise their sincerely held religious views, and I support this measure to protect that freedom of conscience.”
The vote is scheduled for Thursday.
