RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – It’s no secret that Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is a champion of conservative causes. But we’re finding out just how far he’ll go to protect them, or how far he wants his followers to go, even if it means winding up behind bars.
Cuccinelli spoke on radio host Steve Deace’s show Wednesday night (The interview begins 13:00 into the segment). He said going to jail is a way employers can protest a mandate in the healthcare reform bill. The bill forces them to pay medical insurance for their employees to cover the costs of contraceptives. Cuccinelli also strongly supports the lawsuit filed by Hobby Lobby stores against the government’s affordable care act.
It requires the company to cover the cost of contraceptives for its employees. If they don’t, Hobby Lobby could face up to $1.3 million in fines each day it fails to comply.
A devout Catholic, Cuccinelli believes opponents of the mandate should put the controversial measure on trial by making the government enforce it in as heavy-handed a way as possible.
Recently, a U.S. District Judge said churches and religious organizations have protection against birth control provisions in the healthcare mandate, but Hobby Lobby is not a religious organization.
With the election for governor coming up, Cuccineli is showing voters where he stands on issues. If chosen as the GOP candidate, he’ll more than likely face former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe who announced last month that he plans to run for governor.
