Hi all,
Here is an E mail I received from Connie Mack, Republican Senator of Florida, after I joined a petition regarding the legislation he refers to.

Dear Mrs ...
Thank you for contacting me to express your thoughts regarding the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. I appreciate the opportunity to hear your views and to share where I stand on this important matter.

I believe the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) decision to mandate contraceptive, sterilization, and abortifacient coverage in the health market is an unprecedented overreach by the federal government. This action infringes upon the fundamental rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to our Constitution.

As you know, Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) introduced H.R. 1179, the Respect for Rights of Conscious Act of 2011. The purpose of this bill is to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to permit a health care plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the issuers or receivers of the plan without penalty. H.R. 1179 is currently pending in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

Should H.R. 1179 be considered by the full House of Representatives, please know that I would vote in favor of it. As a pro-life member of Congress and staunch defender of freedom, I will continue to fight to protect American citizens and their rights under the Constitution.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I invite you to visit my website at mack.house.gov for additional information on issues facing Congress.

Sincerely,
Connie Mack
Member of Congress

Here is what I replied …

Dear Sir:

The Republican party's holy mission is small government. Please start by taking government out of our marriage arrangements (I am a heterosexual female, married to a guy), out of our bedrooms (I don't need contraception for myself but I fight for those who do and are not wealthy) and out of our bodies (I fight for my sisters). Thank you for understanding that if big government is the problem, you are it.

Furthermore, if you will Google James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, to name just two of our founding fathers, on the issue of religious issues in government, you may be surprised to learn they were totally against it. And the only reference to religion in the Constitution is that sentence that begins "Congress shall make no law ..."

I will fight vigorously to see that all those who are really undermining our Constitution (that would be you and yours) are out of office. Don't bother finding me -- I have a driver's license and excellent reflexes.

Sincerely,

HSL