Written by Don Byrd
Overriding Governor Jay Nixon’s veto, the Missouri legislature earlier today voted 109-45 to allow broad religious exemptions from the federal requirement that health insurance cover contraception. The bill goes further than exemptions already in place for houses of worship and religious institutions to allow any employer with a religious or moral objection to refuse to provide contraception in employee health plans.
Groups that support the legislation say it will protect religious liberty. During the regular session, more than 2,000 people rallied at the Capitol in favor of the bill.
But opponents argue that it could limit access to affordable birth control for thousands of Missouri women and could spur lawsuits because it conflicts with federal law.
Even if this legislation is a valid state limitation of federal law, is it a good idea to allow the religious beliefs of secular business owners to dictate the health coverage of employees?
[UPDATE: Via Religion Clause, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports a lawsuit has already been filed challenging the law as discriminatory and in conflict with federal law.]
