Federal Judge Overturns Missouri Birth Control Law
On Monday, a federal judge overturned a Missouri law that would allow employers to deny contraceptive coverage for their employees.
U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig ruled that the law was unconstitutional because it violated the Affordable Care Act. Judge Fleissig determined that, according to the U.S. Constitution, federal law takes precedent over state laws when there is a legal conflict.
In September 2012, the Missouri state legislature overrode the Governor's veto of the law which would exempt religious institutions from providing contraception coverage to employees. In addition the legislature gave a public rebuttal to the Obama Administration for the Affordable Care Act, the first in the nation. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 20 states [PDF] allow for an employer to deny contraceptive coverage for religious or moral reasons.
Media Resources: Associated Press 3/18/2013; ThinkProgress 3/18/2013; Guttmacher Institute 3/1/2013; Feminist Newswire 9/13/2012
6/19/2013 House Passes 20 Week Abortion Ban - Yesterday, the House of Representatives approved a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks gestation in a vote of 228 to 196. . . .
6/18/2013 Supreme Court Strikes Down Proof of Citizenship Voter Requirements - On Monday, the United States Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed register to vote.
In an opinion written [PDF] by Justice Antonin Scalia, the Court ruled that the Arizona statute violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA, also known as the "Motor Voter Law") of 1993, which created a federal form that individuals can mail in to register to vote in federal elections. . . .
