NH House Condemns Contraceptive Exemption

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire's House has passed a resolution calling for the federal government to rescind a rule requiring health insurance companies to provide contraceptives to employees of religious organizations.

Republican House Speaker William O'Brien and other GOP leaders say the federal requirement should be overturned even though it no longer requires religious organizations to directly pay for contraceptives.

House Republican Leader D.J. Bettencourt argued government bureaucrats should not decide what religious institutions are required to do. Other supporters said the issue is a matter of protecting religious freedom.

But Bow Democrat Stephen DeStefano argued New Hampshire has had laws on the books that already exempt self-insured institutions like Catholic Medical Center.

The House passed the resolution 227-121. The resolution has no weight of law but expresses the House's opinion.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.