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Paul, who unlike many other libertarians is not pro-choice, accused the president of instituting the regulation as a kickback to political supporters.



“Many, like me, view this rigid regulatory overstep from which there is inadequate opportunity to self-exempt as payback to Planned Parenthood and big pharmaceutical companies for their support of Obamacare,” Paul said. “Many others oppose it out of strict moral conviction, and their voices should be heard at least to the extent that an authentic opportunity to exempt be provided.”



But Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Kathleen SebeliusSpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Mike Roman says 3M on track to deliver 2 billion respirators globally and 1 billion in US by end of year; US, Pfizer agree to 100M doses of COVID-19 vaccine that will be free to Americans The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Former HHS Secretary Sebelius gives Trump administration a D in handling pandemic; Oxford, AstraZeneca report positive dual immunity results from early vaccine trial MORE said Thursday that Democrats are fighting a “war” for women’s health services.



“They don’t just want to go after the last 18 months, they want to roll back the last 50 years in progress women have made in comprehensive healthcare in America,” Sebelius said of the mandate’s opponents at an NARAL Pro-Choice America luncheon. “We’ve come a long way in women’s health over the last few decades, but we are in a war.”

Sebelius said the regulations are necessary, considering that insurance companies had previously categorized “Viagra an essential medication and birth control a lifestyle choice.”



But Paul said the federal government should have no role in family planning services.



“As president, I plan to defund Obamacare and all federal programs that use tax money taken from the American people to promote abortion and provide abortion services domestically and globally,” Paul said. “I pledge also to veto any bill with funding for Planned Parenthood or any other international family planning regimes.”