Obama agrees with Sebelius on decision to limit morning-after pill

President Obama said Thursday that, as the father of two young daughters, he supported his Health secretary’s move to limit access to the morning-after pill.

“I did not get involved in the process, this was a decision of Kathleen Sebelius,” Obama said, referring to the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department.

“I will say this. As the father of two daughters, it makes sense to apply some common sense,” Obama said.

He said Sebelius “could not be confident a 10-year-old or a 11-year-old going to a pharmacy would [not] be able to … buy a medication that could have an adverse effect.”

Sebelius overruled Food and Drug Administration regulators on Wednesday by leaving in place a restriction that women younger than 17 must get a prescription for the Plan B contraceptive commonly known as the morning-after pill. FDA regulators had recommended that all women be able to get the drug without a prescription.

The news was a shock to lawmakers and women’s health groups, who criticized the administration for making a political move. Republicans and anti-abortion-rights groups argue the morning-after pill causes abortions.

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