Senate debates bill against Obamacare medical coverage.

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2/ 8/2012: Newspaper Story - The proposed bill would not require health care providers to provide contraceptives to their employees.

2/14/2012: Radio Story - A state Senate committee passed a bill reacting with the birth control portion of Obamacare.

Intro:	Medical coverage of contraceptives is a controversial topic for Obamacare. Tuesday, the Missouri Senate prevented voting on that issue.
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Wrap: The Senate blocked voting on the bill, which would remove the requirement of employers to provide medical coverage for abortion and contraceptives, if it is against its moral beliefs.

If the law is violated, civil claims could be made by the Attorney General.

Napton Republican Senator Bill Stouffer says the bill protects an employer's freedom of religion.

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Description: "It just seems wrong, as an employer, that I give up my first amendment rights to decide what I pay for and what I don't pay for."

Kansas City Democratic Senator Jolie Justus proposed an amendment that would remove birth control from the bill.

She says this will reduce costs because birth control helps prevent diseases.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Paige Hornor.

Intro:	The Missouri Senate blocked a bill following the recent issue of birth control in Obamacare Tuesday.
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Wrap: The bill would eliminate the requirement of an employer to pay for medical coverage of all forms of birth control, if it goes against its moral beliefs.

Democratic Senator Victor Callahan says this bill gives the responsibilities of insurance companies to employers.

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Description: "This isn't a very good bill because you're extending this authority to employees that can have any basic objections to a plan and now they have civil claims paid for by the AG."

Sponsor of the bill St. Louis County Republican Senator John Lamping says the employer can choose what health care they want to provide.

The Senate delayed voting on this bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Paige Hornor.

Intro:	A bill that would eliminate the requirement for employers to provide medical coverage for contraceptives sparked debate in the Missouri Senate. That debate blocked the bill on Tuesday.
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Wrap: An employer would not need to provide coverage if it is against their religious or moral beliefs.

Current Missouri law allows employers to opt out of coverage for abortion and contraceptives like birth control.

This bill adds sterilization and allows civil action from the Attorney General if the law is violated.

Kansas City Democratic Senator Jolie Justus proposed an amendment that would remove contraception from the bill.

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Description: "For every dollar that's spent on birth control, you actually save three to four dollars on health care costs and it's not just because of preventing pregnancy."

She says birth control needs to be covered in order to prevent diseases.

The Senate delayed voting on this bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Paige Hornor.