M&C Blog: Is Roy Blunt's Bill a Backdoor Attack on Same-Sex Marriage Rights?

This week the Senate is expected to vote on Sen. Roy Blunt's "Respect for Rights of Conscience Act." The bill purportedly is aimed to exempt religious institutions from providing health coverage for contraception, however it actually goes far beyond religious institutions and beyond contraception.

The bill's broad language would allow any employer (religious institution or not) "to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor." Opponents of this legislation have focused largely on its impact on women's access to preventative care. However, since the bill allows exemptions for any services that conflict with the employer's religious beliefs, it also could allow employers in states where same-sex marriage is legal to deny health coverage to same-sex spouses of its employees.

The Missouri Senator proposed the measure as an amendment to a highway spending bill currently under debate. The amendment is expected to be defeated.