the lead attorney for the nuns put hit the way -- the government demands that the little sisters of the poor sign a permission slip for abortion drugs and contraceptives or pay millions in fines. the sisters believe doing that violates their faith and that they shouldn't be forced to divert funds from the elderly poor they serve to the irs. the plaintiff has asked justice sotomayor to block the mandate and the fines while they make their case many the federal appeals court. the government responded friday arguing the plaintiffs cannot claim that filling out the form violates their religious beliefs because their insurance administrator will be providing birth control despite the religious objections not because of them. the government also noted that in this case the religious group's insurance administrator is itself also exempt from the mandate and will not have to provide birth control anyway. but if as the government put it, the nuns can solve their problems themselves by declaring their religious xemings with the stroke of their own pen. joining us from washington, d.c. is jay engoff the first director