A letter circulating around the internet claims the founder and CEO of craft mega-store Hobby Lobby says he might shut down all 500+ stores in 41 states as a reaction to the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Get the facts and updates on this situation.

The letter, which originally appeared on USAToday30 and has since been re-blogged on dozens of Christian-based websites, is a column David Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby, wrote in reaction to new laws surrounding the Affordable Care Act. Although it’s making its rounds on the internet this week, the letter was actually written on September 12th, 2012. Since then, a lot has happened in the case of Hobby Lobby and the Affordable Care Act.

Facebook
Facebook
loading...

Green started the column by explaining his business is one he started with a $600 loan from the bank and two Christian principles. He writes,

I've always said that the first two goals of our business are 1) to run our business in harmony with God's laws, and 2) to focus on people more than money. And that's what we've tried to do.

Green attests that the laws of the Affordable Care Act require that his company provide insurance to employees that covers “drugs that might cause abortion” which he strongly believes to be against his morals. The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to cover the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives which would include emergency contraceptives like Plan B. Green believes drugs such as Plan B which his insurance would cover go against his company’s values, stating,

A new government health care mandate says that our family business must provide what I believe are abortion-causing drugs as part of our health insurance. Being Christians, we don't pay for drugs that might cause abortions. Which means that we don't cover emergency contraception, the morning-after pill or the week-after pill. We believe doing so might end a life after the moment of conception, something that is contrary to our most important beliefs. It goes against the biblical principles on which we have run this company since day one.

 

Hobby Lobby was told if they did not comply with the new law, they would be fined $1.3 million dollars per day. Feeling this wasn’t fair, Green filed a lawsuit, challenging the ACA. Recently, an appeals judge ruled while the lawsuit is still active, Hobby Lobby cannot be fined and their insurance will not be forced to include emergency contraceptive coverage.

So does this mean Hobby Lobby will close? It’s hard to say. There are 45 other lawsuits brought against the ACA opposing the coverage of emergency contraceptives so it’s unlikely we’ll get a verdict soon. Recent activity suggests the case might even go to the Supreme Court. Considering Hobby Lobby might not get the verdict they desire, you might wonder if closing more than 500 stores and laying off more than 13,000 employees worth not providing emergency contraceptive coverage. Which is the lesser of the evils?


More From 93.1 KISS FM