7 States Sue Over Birth Control Rule

The White House plan to make sure that employees of religious institutions get birth control coverage is back in the news. The attorneys general of seven states—Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas—have sued the federal government over the requirement, reports the Hill. They say the rule violates religious freedom protected by the First Amendment.

“We will not stand idly by while our constitutionally-guaranteed liberties are discarded by an administration that has sworn to uphold them," said Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning. Earlier this month, after religious groups objected, President Obama said the onus to provide coverage for contraceptives would shift from employers to health insurers, but that move didn't go far enough, said Bruning, according to AP. (More Nebraska stories.)