Obama delivered the remarks during a joint press conference in Mexico City. Obama defends Plan B appeal

President Barack Obama on Thursday defended his administration’s decision to appeal a judge’s ruling that the Plan B morning-after pill should be available to women and girls of all ages, saying he was “very comfortable” with the Food and Drug Administration’s current rule.

Obama said the agency was likely to conduct an additional review, but would go forward with the appeal nonetheless.


“I’m very comfortable with the decision they’ve made right now based on solid scientific evidence for girls 15 and older,” Obama said at a Mexico City press conference with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

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Yet Obama sought a middle ground between satisfying women’s groups supportive of expanding contraceptive options to women and the political risk of appearing to move too quickly on an issue that continues to draw a strong reaction from some abortion opponents. He couched the FDA ruling as not within his purview, placing responsibility for the original decision with the FDA and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

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“It’s not my decision to make,” Obama said. “The first time around, where there were no age restrictions, Secretary Sebelius expressed concerns and I supported those concerns and I gave voice to them.”

He also gave a nod to jurisdictional questions that could be a motivating factor in the Justice Department’s decision to take action. “My understanding is part of it has to do with the precedent, and the way in which the judge handled that case” that resulted in this week’s ruling.

Obama also reiterated his caution on Syria, saying his administration will continue to evaluate the situation before deciding if, when and how to support rebels fighting embattled President Bashar al-Assad.

Obama acknowledged that other countries, which he left unnamed, are funding and arming Assad’s government in the civil war.

“We also know that the Assad regime is getting not just lethal aid but training and support from countries outside of Syria,” Obama said.

Obama said he will continue to be careful before taking action on Syria.

“We’ll continue to evaluate that every step of the way,” Obama said. “We want to make sure that we look before we leap and that what we’re doing is actually helpful to the situation as opposed to making it more deadly or more complex.”

And Obama, who was subjected to answering a question about whether he still has enough “juice” to pass legislation, reminded himself and Peña Nieto to continue pressing forward with their respective agendas.

“Sometimes I think theres a temptation once somebody is elected to just stay elected, as opposed to trying to make sure that we use our time as well as we can to bring about the kinds of changes to help move the country forward,” Obama said.

Obama also touched on the Senate’s ongoing debate over comprehensive immigration reform. He said he remains optimistic that a bipartisan agreement will be reached but allowed that “I suspect that the final legislation wont contain everything I want.”

And he reiterated his vow to continue pushing for new gun control laws.

“Things happen somewhat slowly in Washington, but this is just the first round,” the president said of the Senate’s failure to pass the expanded background checks bill he had sought. “I want to be clear that we’re going to keep at this. One thing I am is persistent.”

Obama’s remarks on the morning after pill came after the federal judge who ordered it be made available over the counter by May 10 said Thursday that he will delay that deadline temporarily.

The Obama administration has appealed his ruling, saying he did not have the jurisdiction to order the drug to be made available to girls of all ages without a prescription.

Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York said he will hear the government’s request for a stay next Tuesday. But he said even if he does not grant the stay himself pending appeal, he will grant one to allow the government to seek a stay from the Appeals Court. Either way, it amounts to a delay.

The administration this week modified its policy, saying girls under age 15 still need a prescription but allowing it to be sold in retail stores that have pharmacies. Before, girls up to age 17 needed a prescription. HHS said its policy change had nothing to do with the court case. The Department of Justice filed its appeal late Wednesday.