East Texas Baptist University, Houston Baptist University Sue Over Obamacare Contraception Mandate

University President Doesn't Want To Pay For Workers' Birth Control Because 'Life Begins At Conception'
President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event at The Ohio State University Oval, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event at The Ohio State University Oval, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Two universities are alleging that it's unconstitutional for Obamacare to require employers to cover contraception for workers.

East Texas Baptist University and Houston Baptist University filed a lawsuit in federal court in south Texas on Tuesday challenging Obamacare's requirement for employers' health insurance to cover their workers' contraception drug costs, according to a press release from East Texas Baptist University.

This is the 32nd lawsuit challenging the Obamacare contraception provision, according to the press release. The two universities each face government fines of up to $10 million if they lose the lawsuit and decide to stop providing their employees health insurance, according to KLTV 7.

Dub Oliver, president of East Texas Baptist University, told KLTV 7 that he opposes the provision because he believes that "life begins at conception" and that contraception drugs cause abortions.

"While we are always reluctant to enter into lawsuits, the government has given us no choice," Robert Sloan, president of Houston Baptist University, said in a statement. "We will not comply with this unconstitutional mandate, and we plead with our government to respect the liberties given by God and enunciated in the Bill of Rights."

Similar lawsuits challenging Obamacare's contraception provision have failed to get off the ground. A federal judge in Missouri ruled in September that Obamacare's contraception mandate does not violate the Constitution in a court case brought by Frank O'Brien, owner of O'Brien Industrial Holdings. Other similar lawsuits also have been dismissed by federal judges.

(Hat tip: Courthouse News.)

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this post mistakenly said that the lawsuit alleges it is illegal for Obamacare to require employers to cover contraception for workers. The lawsuit alleges it is unconstitutional.

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