Arizona House OKs bill on contraception exemption
Web Producer: Alexandra Sutter
PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona legislators debated religious freedom and availability of health care issues as the House approved a bill to allow religious employers with religious objections to contraception to not provide health insurance coverage for birth control.
The House's 39-18 vote Thursday sends the bill to the Senate.
The bill would change an existing Arizona law that now mandates coverage for contraception as part of policies provided by employers.
But Republicans have raised the issue in Arizona and other states in response to a recent decision by President Barack Obama's administration to guarantee employees of religion-affiliated institutions reproductive health coverage.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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