Mitt Romney faulted President Barack Obama's original push to require church-affiliated employers to pay for birth control as an "assault on religion," but as Massachusetts governor, Romney was largely silent about a state law that required virtually the same contraceptive coverage.
The Massachusetts law, which essentially mirrored Obama's proposal, was signed by Romney's predecessor in 2002, the year before he took office. Romney did not seek its repeal.
Despite his silence on the state law, as a presidential candidate Romney attacked Obama's initial proposal, which would have required Catholic-affiliated employers to pay for a service that violates the church's teachings.
"This kind of assault on religion will end if I'm president of the United States," Romney said, calling it "a real blow … to our friends in the Catholic faith."
On Friday, Obama backed off the requirement, instead saying that workers at religious institutions would be able to get free contraception directly from health insurers.
As governor, Romney made no similar effort to amend or repeal the state law, which required employers that purchase insurance plans in Massachusetts to pay for contraceptives. He did clash with lawmakers about whether Catholic hospitals should be required to dispense emergency contraception to rape victims.
The 2002 law applies to employers who purchase insurance plans in Massachusetts. Larger employers that have private agreements with insurers and are considered self-insured are subject to federal laws.
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