Hobby Lobby Suing Over Health Care Mandate

Hobby Lobby is the latest business to file a federal lawsuit challenging a mandate in the nation’s health care overhaul law that requires employers to provide coverage for the morning-after pill.

Hobby Lobby

The lawsuit by the Oklahoma City-based chain claims the government mandate is forcing the company’s owners “to violate their deeply held religious beliefs under threat of heavy fines, penalties and lawsuits.” Failure to provide the drugs in the company’s health insurance plan could lead to fines of up to $1.3 million a day, according to the company.

Hobby Lobby calls itself a “biblically founded business.” The company started in 1972 and now operates more than 500 stores in 41 states.

Kyle Duncan, general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said 27 other lawsuits have been filed nationwide over the mandate