Donnelly-Backed Law Pits Federal Bureaucrats Against Religious Institutions

As the controversy grows surrounding the Obama Administration’s recent health care guidelines that have pitted President Obama and Senate Democrat leaders against the Catholic Church and supporters of religious freedom, even prominent Democrats have stepped forward and voiced their opposition to the government’s overreach.

Yet, Indiana’s Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Joe Donnelly, a Catholic and graduate of the University of Notre Dame, has maintained radio silence.  A review of his official website finds no statement or opinion from Donnelly on what has quickly become one of the most controversial Obama Administration decisions to date.

“This latest mandate stemming from the Obama-Donnelly healthcare law is a troubling overreach into the private healthcare decisions of Hoosiers, and yet while countless legislators have stepped forward and voiced their opinion, Joe Donnelly has remained silent,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “No one in Indiana should be forced to choose between violating their religious beliefs and facing government penalties, but because of the Donnelly-backed health care law, that’s what they are now facing.”

Notably, Donnelly’s silence stands in marked contrast to Indiana’s senior U.S. Senator Dick Lugar who is cosponsoring the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, S. 1467, and said Monday, “The House and Senate should take up this measure quickly to overturn this decision by the Obama Administration.”

And Donnelly’s silence is even more notable as even a number of his fellow Democats have voiced their opposition to the Obama Administration’s war on religious freedom.  Just for example, Pennsylvania Democrat Senator Bob Casey told Politico yesterday that religious-affiliated universities and hospitals should not be forced to buy insurance policies that “violate their religious and moral convictions.”  And freshman Democrat Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) called the mandate “un-American.”

Even President Obama’s former hand-picked Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Tim Kaine, who is now running for the U.S. Senate seat in Virginia, told the Washington Post today that he does not support the Obama Administration’s new government mandate.

FLASHBACK…..Donnelly’s Support For ObamaCare Gave The Democrats A Key Vote

• “Donnelly’s Support Gives Democrats A Key Vote,” Said An Indianapolis Star Headline. (Maureen Groppe, “Donnelly’s Support Gives Democrats A Key Vote,” Indianapolis Star, 3/22/10)

• “Indiana Rep. Joe Donnelly’s Decision Sunday To Back A Health-Care Overhaul Package Helped Give Democrats The Votes Needed To Pass The Bill. The outcome became assured after a group of anti-abortion Democrats that included Donnelly announced Sunday afternoon that they had reached an agreement with the White House over abortion coverage.” (Maureen Groppe, “Donnelly’s Support Gives Democrats A Key Vote,” Indianapolis Star, 3/22/10)