A little bit more of our religious and economic freedom, which is to say our freedom generally, died today in the U.S. Senate.  In a 51-48 vote, the Blunt amendment, which would have "allowed" employers to opt out of providing health insurance coverage for items or services contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions, was defeated.  Technically, the vote was to table the amendment.  The only GOP senator to join 50 Democrats in killing the amendment was Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME).  Three Democrat senators supported it:  Bob Casey (PA), Joe Manchin (WV), and Ben Nelson (NE). The amendment was drafted in response to the Obama Administration's recent contraception mandate.  Seven states have already filed suit to block the mandate. The fact that so many people buy into the premise of the federal government having authority to "allow" employers to do something doesn't bode well for liberty, whether the matter is religious related or not.  With...(Read Full Post)