The immediate controversy at the Oversight Panel’s hearing is over the witnesses called. Democrats allege that their witness was turned down. Republicans counter that Democrats offered two witnesses and one was invited. That witness for the minority was Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. A spokesperson for chairman Issa told TPM she assumed Lynn would appear on the hearing’s second panel.
However, a new version of events is now coming from Catholics United and Lynn himself. In an email, the organization says, “Democrats on the panel originally contemplated asking Lynn to testify as their witness, but they ultimately decided to invite a female law student to represent them, asserting that the hearing should include a woman participant. Republicans on the committee, however, refused to allow her to appear.”
Lynn issued the following statement:
I was open to testify at today’s hearing, but I understand and support the minority’s decision to ask a woman to take part because this issue would affect women’s access to contraceptives and the right to conscience. I appreciate that I was given the opportunity to provide written testimony. I am disappointed, however, by the imbalance on the panel and the lack of women’s voices on an issue that has terrific impact on them. When the claim of ‘conscience’ by large religions collides with that of an individual woman, it is her right to make her own moral decision that must be saved.
UPDATE: Becca Watkins, spokesperson for Chairman Issa, confirmed to TPM that Lynn was invited. Rob Boston of Americans United also confirmed they received an invitation from the Majority. The reason Lynn did not appear, Boston told TPM, is that Democrats had decided to go with a woman, Sandra Fluke, instead of Lynn if the Minority was only to be allowed one witness. Feeling that his invitation was not very “serious” and that it only came from one party, as the Minority had chosen to go with Fluke, Lynn chose not to attend.
