The GOP seems gleeful over their newfound wedge issue in the Patient Protection Act's requirement that insurance companies provide contraceptive coverage for all women, no matter who their employers are. That glee may be short-sighted, though. Polls show that 70 percent of women support contraceptive coverage and women win elections. We fought back against the Komen Foundation's efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and we will continue to fight back against any and all right-wing attacks on our equality under the law.

I think that the ideal way to remove religious interference from our right to health-care coverage would be to untie insurance from employment. Receiving coverage as individuals, rather than as employees of some organization, would not only solve this problem but would reduce premium costs and allow people the freedom to change jobs or retire early without fear of losing insurance. We need to support an improved Medicare for all and keep the right wing and their wedge issues out of our health care.

Sharon Alford

Bellingham