Court blocks Missouri law countering contraception mandate

A federal judge struck down a law that would have given employers a "religious freedom" exemption from the mandate

Published March 18, 2013 7:57PM (EDT)

The fight continues over the contraception mandate in Obamacare, with a federal judge blocking a Missouri law that would have forced insurance companies to provide a way for employers or individuals to opt out of policies that require contraception coverage.

From the Associated Press:

U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig cited a provision in the U.S. Constitution declaring that federal laws take precedence over contradictory state laws.

Missouri's Republican-led Legislature overrode the veto of Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon last September to enact a law that appeared to be the first in the nation to directly rebut the Obama administration's contraception policy. The Missouri law required insurers to issue policies without contraception coverage if individuals or employers objected because of religious or moral beliefs.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Barack Obama Contraception Health Care Missouri Obamacare