Sen. Murray: Original Obama plan on contraception was better

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said President Obama's original proposal for providing employees of religiously affiliated organizations with contraceptive care was her preferred choice, but that she would accept the new plan.

"My highest priority here is ensuring contraceptive access and coverage for all women, and I believe this accommodation meets that goal," Murray, the chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement.

"Every American deserves to have access to high quality healthcare coverage regardless of where they work. And each of us should have the right to make our own medical  and religious decisions without being dictated to or limited by our employers," Murray continued.

"I stand by my support for the original recommendation offered by the independent Institute of Medicine, but I am glad that we can move forward with an acceptable accommodation that addresses the concerns raised and, most importantly, protects women and supports their health care needs," she noted.

Murray was one of the earliest and most outspoken defenders of the rule, which was criticized by conservatives, some religious organizations and a few Democrats.

On Friday, the administration announced that it was modifying the rule to accommodate organizations that objected to contraceptive care. Under the change, the insurers of the organizations that object to contraceptive care would be required to provide the coverage to the organization's employees, rather than the employer itself. 

--This story was updated at 12:33 p.m.