A New Republican Take on Birth Control

Lost in the news today because of the tragic senseless killing of elementary school children in Connecticut was the Op-Ed piece by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, in which he supports a move to make oral contraceptives available over-the-counter. HuffingtonPost reported on the story:

If women could buy birth control without a prescription, he argues, employers would not have to pay for it against their moral objections, and Democrats could no longer accuse Republicans of being anti-birth control.

The idea was, in fact, consistent with (and based upon) the view expressed this month by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. They argue that birth control is safe enough that it should not require a prescription from a physician. Indeed, one could readily argue that since the most dangerous thing a women can do in terms of health risks is to become pregnant, anything that can prevent that if a woman so desires ought to be available to her. Jindal pointed out that emergency contraception is already available over-the-counter, so there is a clear precedent.

It is not yet clear whether other Republicans will jump on this, but the very fact that it was floated by someone who has been thought of as a serious future candidate for President has to be a good sign.