U.S. Senate Defeats Bill to Reverse Birth Control Rule

The Senate is refusing to roll back President Barack Obama's policy on contraception insurance -- specifically, the requirement that insurers cover the costs of birth control.

An amendment that was defeated today by a 51-48 margin would have allowed employers and insurers to opt out of parts of the president's health care law that they found morally objectionable.

Republicans said it was a matter of freedom of religion; Democrats said it was an assault on women's rights and could be used to cancel virtually any part of the law.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)