Gov. Nixon Vetoes SB749!

Responding in part to an aggressive grassroots response calling for the rejection of misguided anti-contraception legislation, Governor Jay Nixon announced that he vetoed the legislation today!

Gov. Jay Nixon today vetoed a bill (SB749) that would have allowed employers and insurers to decide not to provide coverage for abortion, contraception or sterilization if such procedures run contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions.

The governor said Missouri law already provides "strong religious protections" that let employers and employees abstain from paying for contraceptive coverage based on their beliefs.

Nothing in the bill passed by the Missouri Legislature "would enhance these substantive religious protections that have been in place and afforded to employees and employers," the governor said in his veto message.

In fact, he said the bill would undermine current law because it would let an insurance company "impose its will, and deny inclusion of contraceptive coverage, even if that position is inconsistent with the rights and beliefs of the employee or employer."