Supreme Court: Employers Can Opt Out of Contraceptive Coverage

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby that employers with religious objections can opt out of providing contraception coverage under Obamacare.

The owners of Hobby Lobby objected to a provision of the new health care law requiring that they cover contraceptives for women -- saying it violated their religious views.  It's the first time that the high court has ruled that profit-seeking businesses can hold religious views under federal law.

But the ruling applies only to corporations that are controlled by just a few people in which there's no essential difference between the business and its owners.

U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s Burwell v. Hobby Lobby decision:

“This ruling is a victory for freedom and another blow against the Obama Administration’s unprecedented overreach into the lives of Americans. The Justices made it clear that the Administration does not have the power to force religious leaders and organizations in our country to replace their own moral standards with Washington’s one-size-fits-all mandate.

Senator Enzi (R-WY) issued the following statement after hearing the ruling:

“The Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious liberty today. The federal government should not have the ability to force people to pay for contraception. I am pleased the court affirmed that Americans have that right to make their own decision on this issue.”