Bill Proposing Tax Break Targets Contraception Rule
A bill filed Thursday in the Texas House would give religiously based businesses, such as Hobby Lobby, a state tax break if the businesses chose not to comply with the federal government’s mandate that employers provide contraception coverage.
"It is simply appalling that any business owner should have to choose between violating their religious convictions and watching their business be strangled by the strong arm of Federal mandates and taxation," Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, said in a prepared statement discussing his measure, House Bill 649.
The contraception rule, part of federal health care reform, requires employment-based health insurance plans ...
Comments (57)
Matt Stillwell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How is hobby lobby a religously based business? Their art supplies aren't made with holy water. If I occassionally go to church and then withhold federally mandated benefits from my employees, do I get a tax break on my insurance agency? Cause if so, I'm totally a religious based business owner.
Bg Te
Romans 13:1-2
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
HL is not a religiously based business (which are already exempt from the HHS ruling), and this is the worst kind of pandering from Republicans. I don't give a shit if you don't like birth control, then don't use it. But employers don't have the right to tell employees how they use their compensation (and insurance is part of compensation for work performed). If I were a business owner in this state, and didn't get that tax break, I'd be raising hell and hiring a lawyer.
Michelle James
Are they kidding??? Texas does not need to give tax breaks up to the entire tax amount owed to for-profit businesses that break the law!!! So does the bill only apply to evangelical Christians? Or would a for-profit business run by Jehovah's Witnesses that deny employees insurance coverage for life-saving treatments such as cancer get their taxes owed to Texas written off, too? Our legislature is a joke. You know they haven't thought through the consequences and want to pick and choose who gets a tax break. Texas doesn't need to give away money like that, we need it for education and the Women's Health Program that has been de-funded.
Jaye Ramsey Sutter via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Good for you Matt Stillwell, you took my point. Religiously based business? What in the wide wide world of sports is that? Contraception is certainly not any employers' interests. Are they going to start asking if you are on the pill on a job application?
Michelle James
Ooops, I meant to say "...life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer..." And that bill encourages businesses to break the law. Why don't the legislators do some real work and write bills that are helpful to their constituents?
Brian Ortego via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why not implement Rick Perry's fair and/or flat tax for fairness and tax relief to everyone in Texas. High property taxes are regressive and unfair to the middle class!
Nicholas Taylor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Religion is not something that only goes on in a church building. Religion is a way of life. If one is not allowed to implement their faith into their daily life, then freedom of religion in this nation is a farce.
John Mills
So by this action, the taxpayers of Texas would be subsidizing a business, due to religious reasons.
Not only no, but Hell no.
Melia Newman via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Giving preferred treatments to religions is wrong and a violation of the Constitution.
Samdavis
This one won't stand up in court. It will be another loser for Abbott. BTW, Hobby Lobby isn't a religious business, they're just an incredibly hypocritical and bigoted one.
Tim Spotswood via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If they are doing work for the church, hiring only church people then it is a religiously based business. Once they decide to do business with the general public they are NOT a religiously based business. The same churches that own malls, deal in real estate, and hide behind "separation of church and state" for tax purposes will politic like fucking crazy to regulate our morals. I favor real separation - no special rules for or against churches. They are free to worship but should pay tax! Give Caesar his due. They get too many special privileges already.
Betty DuBose Hamilton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Such issues should be PERSONAL decisions. The government has no business stepping in. Faith and religious affiliation is a personal CHOICE. If one's conscience tells him/her that contraception is wrong, then THAT PERSON should not request it. Whether to use contraception or not is a PERSONAL CHOICE.
Joshua Bradshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The GOP solutions never seem to be driven by limited government solutions but instead creating more tax breaks and exemptions in addition to existing tax breaks and exemptions. It only makes the laws messier and less fair.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Nicholas, freedom of your religion doesn't mean you get to use your religion to determine whether or not someone else has access to birth control via their health plan. I don't care if you are their employer. Your freedom of religion means you cannot be forced to use birth control if it goes against your religion. That's where that freedom of religion ends. It does not mean you get to use your religion as a basis for determining whether others have access.
As I stated upstream, if you want to do business in the US, you have to follow secular employment laws, and that includes not discriminating against women (which, BTW, denying access to hormonal birth control does). You can't cherry pick which laws you will follow and which you won't. Religious-based employers are already exempt from the HHS ruling. There's no possible way that Hobby Lobby can be considered a religious-based employer and to give them a special tax exemption because of them having to follow employment laws is the state asking for a lawsuit.
Melinda Clark Powell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Let companies withhold contraction coverage, but if someone ends up with an unwanted pregnancy the company pays for the child's expenses through college:)
Mary Bell Lockhart
Even if HL were a religious based business, which it is not, the mandate is that the INSURANCE COMPANIES not the businesses provide the contraception. There is NO violation of their individual rights to religious freedom because businesses don't have a right of religious freedom, individuals, such as the female employees, do. And insurance companies pay for the coverage out of premium dollars BOTH the employees and businesses pay. Furthermore, as an employer, HL is not entitled to know what of their health insurance benefits employees have used, what drugs they have been prescribed or what diseases they have. They're totally off the wall on this. But then, so is the Texas Legislature - no surprise there - because they would be giving a tax deduction to counter not the cost of employee health care benefits but the PENALTY for not providing for that coverage. Do we know of any cases where businesses get tax deductions to offset legal penalties? It's nonsense and obviously the courts are seeing through it.
Debbie Crawford-Aguila via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Everyone seems to be discussing birth control. This issue is more focused on abortion, morning after pills, sex change operations, assisted suicide and other coverage the taxpayers are subject to pay for via Osamacare.
Debbie Crawford-Aguila via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Love Texas and love the proposal!
Julie Martenson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That is garbage. What you bet there will be lots and lots of businesses suddenly "gone religious"! As an employee you pay into your own insurance benefits, how are they to regulate/mandate the dollars earned by an employee. So would Hobby Lobby like to set up a fund for all of the unwanted pregnancies, on site nurseries and a very flexible family leave policy? Probably not.
Nicholas Taylor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@ Renee My freedom of religion should allow me to run my business in a manner that is consistent with my conscience. If you don't like that, then go find yourself job with a business, whose owner will provide you with contraception. There are plenty of employers who can and will provide you with such a health package.
Penny Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No, absolutely not. That's saying if you don't like a law, you can decide not to follow it and we'll reward you for it. If a company wants to stick with their convictions, they should be willing to step up and pay the price. Otherwise, do the hard work necessary to explain why the law is wrong and get enough people to agree with you to change it.
Christie Smith
Debbie Crawford-Aguila, you are completely WRONG. Taxpayers are in no way paying for any of the things you state. And for the last time, to all who refuse to educate themselves, taxpayer money does not pay for Obamacare. Obamacare is a series of directives on INSURANCE COMPANIES.
But here is how taxpayers DO pay for everything - by having to subsidize the uninsured *which we are already doing* and Obamacare is attempting to alleviate that burden (albeit with room for improvement).
And furthermore, our president's name is Obama, not Osama.
Karen Hawkins via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I really hate that I need some fabric dye that they carry there. I rather hoped I could live without them.
Kathy Kennemer Genet via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I am willing to wager that Hobby Lobby is more than happy to let the sinning birth control using customers spend their dirty money in a Hobby Lobby store. But that's beside the point, they have to obey the law. Period.
Kelley Smith via Texas Tribune on Facebook
no. for many reasons. one being they say contraception is abortion. it's not.
Cindy Rhoton Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I just love how republicans don't want to provide healthcare to living children and adults but ever so willing to protect their anti-contraceptive choices. Grow up and try having some sex, you might find you are in a much better mood and a nicer person. Don't force your religion on your employees!
Tracy Warm In Tx via Texas Tribune on Facebook
no business should not get a tax break for the contraception rule. i dont get a tax break for NO CHILDREN ! as a matter of fact ....I am further taxed !
Kelly Devine Vance via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If you are a for profit business you must follow the same laws as every other for profit business. If you are a for prophet business that is another story, though I agree with a previous post, treat religious institutions like they do in other first world countries, tax them. They want to be involved in politics, pay the tax. Heck, if Hobby Lobby really want to follow the Bible they should not carry fabrics of mixed fibers either.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Nicholas, religiously-affiliated schools and hospitals are not churches, their main mission is not preaching and they do not exclusively hire or serve members of their faith. That's why they are not exempt. And no, you do not get to run your business as you see fit based on your religion if that violates the law. Don't want to be open on Sunday, knock yourself out. But you cannot discriminate against women in the name of your religion. Your religious freedom ends where mine begins. Don't believe in using birth control, then don't. But you don't have the right to tell your employees they can't, you don't have the right to discriminate against womeb in their health care policies.
Julie Clegg McKain via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Even Justice Scalia has stated that employers cannot pick and choose with which employment laws they will comply. What if I'm a Jehovah's Witness and refuse to provide health insurance that covers blood products? Your freedom to worship does not protect you from discriminatory employment practices.
Amador Villasenor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Give me a break everyone/hobby lobby should just comply with the law and quit crying. Let them give up all their corporate protection and donate all their corporate profits before we consider them a religious business. This crying is getting old!!!
Sarah Schattman via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I am trying to figure out how a company which makes its money importing "arts & crap" paraphernalia from China to the U.S, and selling it at an outrageous mark up to the glue and glitter addicted constitutes a "religious" business. Christian bookstores, Judaica shops, Seton Hospital, Churches, Schools, Mosques and Synagogs are religious, but Hobby Lobby? Do they worship anything other than the bottom line? I have never seen an altar set up to honor Our Lady of Perpetual Sparkle when I have been in the store.
Shannen King Shapiro via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No, I think they should continue fighting. I think you're missing the point here. That being: Religious Freedom
Casey Magnuson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So much for separation between church and state.
Shannen King Shapiro via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You don't just say, "Oh, never mind. We'll get a tax break! So, we support killing babies after all."
Bill Colburn via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I wish these so-called Christians would stop trying to cram their religion down everyone else's throat.
Philip Welsh via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Only in Texas.
Robert F. White via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What is to stop any business from asserting that it is a "Christian-based business" in order to qualify?
N J Gaunt via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why.is it Repubs are for small government when it concerns Exxon but not when it concerns an unlicensed and concealed vagina?
Robert F. White via Texas Tribune on Facebook
because Jesus would regulate vaginas.
Tracy Kuhn via Texas Tribune on Facebook
you've got to be kidding me!!
Cynthia Casper Robertson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Helz no!!!!
Randee Spittel-Ramsey via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How is a Hobby Lobby a religious business? It's a retail store... As for separation of church and state that gives you the right for YOU to practice YOUR religion not force ME to practice YOUR religion.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Complete bullshit.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Texans--when are you going to WAKE UP?
Patrick Cassidy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a crock of shit....
Tim Thomas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yet more "small government" Republicans proving that their only political conviction is that our money should be going in their pockets.
Alice Mechler
Even the Roman Catholic Church has proclaimed that a fetus is not a person (if it costs them money)! What business is it of yours or an employer what is done about contraception? That is a private matter between a woman (or man) and their doctor!
Hobby Lobby is claiming 'religious rights' about contraception....yet most of the products they sell are made in CHINA! NOT the USA! They are solely PROFIT minded, and care nothing about their USA employees! Let them regulate the contraception of the workers that make their products, not the ones who work to support their families here!
It's is HIGH TIME we got RELIGION our of politics and particularly the LAWS OF THE LAND! MY RELIGION IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, Rep. Strickland! And what I do is between me and my doctor. Many, many women use contraception medications for other purposes than prevent pregnancy. Any half-way educated and medically cognizant person know this....
Jim Baxa
Hey liberals, if birth control is not the employer's business, then why are you demanding that they pay for it?
Linda Childs
Jim Baxa - We are demanding it because your insurance covers Viagra. How, on God's green earth, is it fair that men can have insurance cover help having sex up to the time that they are pushing up daisies, but women cannot say "I don't want to get pregnant," and have insurance cover it as well? The instant that men stop having Viagra and other similar drugs that let you keep having sex covered under insurance is the instant I will stop demanding that insurance be required to cover my end of that.
Linda Childs via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'm curious if Hobby Lobby's insurance covers Viagra and the like for men. If it doesn't, then I'm willing to listen to them for a little bit longer.
Lei Lani via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Can I just say I don't really care whether people are pro bc or not but why is it if you are on bc it cost you more than your cable bill to buy your pills each month. In the last three months the price has increased over $20 and while I don't mind paying for the protection and being responsible withy reproductive health, I feel lime I am being penalized (my wallet is anyhow) for choosing not to have a bunch of kids. Plus that is on top of me paying higher taxes than people who are married with dependents. Why can't I get a tax break for being an educated fault with akin who does not want to live in debt
Lei Lani via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Oops that should say adult with a job not fault with akin
Rudy Gonzales
Religiously based business's getting breaks from political's? Before too long there will be no taxes coming into the coffers for all the churches and tax-exempt properties along with the tax breaks given to preferred political donors. Perry and company have turned Texas into the laughing stock of the nation. Career politicians like Perry should be turned out next election. Perry has a close association with Evangelical(E), Birthers(B), Libertarian(L) and other extremes who are using the (R) to circumvent rules and have corrupted the once proud Republican party. Perry and company are too closle associated with Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus who said that conservative lawmakers in blue states “ought to be looking at” ways to rig the Electoral College system to tilt elections towards Republican candidates. Texans remember Paul Ryan(R)VP to Romney, Todd Akin(R-Missouri), Roger Rivard, Rick Berg, Richard Mourdock and John Koster(all R) who wanted to force women to cow down to their beliefs and desires as if chattel. Women are not property, they are human beings with their own minds, thought processes and feelings and there are many of Perry's close associates who backed these guys along with Rick Perry. On a related note Did you know Social Security(F.I.C.A.) taxes are paid only on the first $100,110.00 of income(wages) and billionaires and millionaires do not pay any additional taxes over that first $100,110.00. Call your Senator and Representative and tell to change this so that Social Security and all the Social Programs can be fully funded into the future. The 2014 Mid-term election is a-coming! "Sweep the HOUSE CLEAN....in 2014".
Christine Lund
It's simply appalling that a business that hires mostly women would use religion as an excuse not to take care of their workforce. They already pay women a lot less than men and yet they refuse to provide the most basic of care for their employees. I can't believe that people hide behind religion and expect to gain financial immunity from the responsibility they bear for their employees. Lowlife trash acting religious will not get you in Heaven Gate. In fact, I'm sure God has some special place for people who use religion to make unearned profits off the backs of the employees.
Kimberly Farrell Perkins via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Stupid!