Minn. companies see Hobby Lobby case as opportunity for broader restrictions

Supporters of employer-paid birth control rally
Supporters of employer-paid birth control rally in front of the Supreme Court before the decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores was announced June 30, 2014 in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A closely watched Supreme Court ruling will likely set a precedent for Minnesota companies challenging the contraceptive coverage mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Yesterday's ruling in favor of the family-owned company Hobby Lobby means that they will not have to cover certain forms of birth control including Plan B (the morning-after pill) and IUDs in their health care plans.

Eight Minnesota companies have similar pending lawsuits and there may be more to come.

And some Supreme Court watchers believe this could open the door to additional challenges to the ACA on religious grounds.

Erick Kaardal, the lawyer representing seven of the eight local companies that have filed for exemptions, joined MPR's Cathy Wurzer with his take on how the Supreme Court's ruling will play out here in Minnesota.

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