I Live in the Center of the Universe

Democratic Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia and Carolyn Maloney of New York have walked out of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, titled, “Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State: Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?”

Speaking to reporters outside the hearing room, Holmes Norton lashed out against Republican Chairman Darrell Issa’s refusal to let the Democrats call any witnesses. All of Issa’s witnesses are opposed to the contraception coverage requirement and are testifying about Issa’s framing of the hearing: that it’s about religious freedom, not health care.

Ranking member Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the son of two Pentecostal ministers, accused Issa of “promoting a conspiracy theory that the federal government is conducting a ‘war’ on religion.” Cummings added that “The pill has had a profound impact on their well being, far more than any man in this room could know.” …

(via jasencomstock)