Religious exemption proposed for birth control coverage

Wading into a national debate, state Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, has proposed that Georgia exempt religiously affiliated businesses from having to provide birth control coverage.

The controversy began earlier this year when the Obama administration issued a mandate requiring health insurers to offer birth control coverage. It included an exemption for churches and houses of worship, but not for other religious institutions such as hospitals, universities and charities.

The mandate caused a rift between the White House and the Roman Catholic Church, among others. Obama offered a compromise two weeks ago in which insurers, rather than religious groups, would pay for the contraceptive coverage.