Seeking to woo women voters, the Left has forced insurers to offer “free” birth control, as enshrined in the Affordable Care Act. That’s a handy trick; instead of engaging in a debate on the economics of the health law with opponents, they can simply shout misogyny, dusting off the war-on-women rhetoric.

By paving the way for an OTC pill by giving the medication priority review at the Food and Drug Administration and waiving filing fees, Gardner and his Republican allies would deprive liberals of one of their most cynical political tricks.

Contrary to what Gardner’s opponents say, making birth control over-the-counter won’t necessarily cause insurers to stop covering it. In fact, Senator Kelly Ayotte (R., N.H.), a co-sponsor of the bill, told S. E. Cupp that “nothing in our bill changes current insurance coverage for contraceptives or prevents insurance companies from continuing to cover contraceptive costs.”

But even if insurers did drop coverage of the pill, over-the-counter status would increase competition, which would exert downward pressure on the price of birth control.