ST. PAUL — An appeals court has blocked enforcement of the Obama administration’s abortion/contraceptive mandate against a Minnesota business, marking the 11th win by businesses or organizations against the controversial federal policy.
The mandate forces businesses to carry insurance that covers contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs, such as Plan B.
The issue likely will be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, but so far the opponents of the policy are winning. Of the 14 cases involving for-profits that have been decided, opponents have won injunctions in 11 cases. Injunctions were denied in three cases, according to a tally by the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom.
The case likely is headed to the nation’s highest court because appeals courts — the level directly below the Supreme Court — have issued split rulings. The Seventh and Eighth Circuits have issued injunctions against the mandate, while the Sixth and 10th Circuits have upheld it. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the government in December, although that order did not involve an injunction but instead an order requiring the government to issue new rules for nonprofits.
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