Chicago Dems plan congressional end run around Hobby Lobby ruling

With an assist from three Chicago-area members, House Democrats today offered legislation to reverse the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision on contraception. But it's doubtful that, in the GOP-dominated House of Representatives, the measure will turn out to be more than good campaign fodder.

Under the measure sponsored by Reps. Brad Schneider of Deerfield, Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates, Mike Quigley of Chicago and 46 other House members, for-profit companies such as Hobby Lobby again would be required to make a full range of contraceptives available in their health insurance policies, as per Obamacare.

The high court on June 30 held that a private "closely held" company such as Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. could refuse to pay for treatments that violated owners' religious views, citing another federal law that requires the government to respect religious views in most cases.

"By giving employers the power to deny coverage for contraceptives, the Supreme Court rolled back women's health care rights," Mr Schneider said in a statement. "A woman's health care decisions should be made between her and her doctor, not dictated by the personal beliefs of her employer."

Look for Mr. Schneider to make a big issue of the matter in his race against GOP nominee Robert Dold, who has not yet taken a position on the bill.

Senate Democrats are also pushing a similar bill.